| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1“Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. | 1Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, and He will heal us; He has wounded us, and He will bind up our wounds. |
| 2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. | 2He will revive us after two days, and on the third day He will raise us up so we can live in His presence. |
| 3Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” | 3Let us strive to know the LORD. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land. |
| 4What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. | 4What am I going to do with you, Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, Judah? Your loyalty is like the morning mist and like the early dew that vanishes. |
| 5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. | 5This is why I have used the prophets to cut them down; I have killed them with the words of My mouth. My judgment strikes like lightning. |
| 6For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | 6For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. |
| 7But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me. | 7But they, like Adam, have violated the covenant; there they have betrayed Me. |
| 8Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood. | 8Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with bloody footprints. |
| 9As robbers lie in wait for a man, so the priests band together; they murder on the way to Shechem; they commit villainy. | 9Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone, a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem. They commit atrocities. |
| 10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim’s whoredom is there; Israel is defiled. | 10I have seen something horrible in the house of Israel: Ephraim's promiscuity is there; Israel is defiled. |
| 11For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed. When I restore the fortunes of my people, | 11A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah. When I return My people from captivity, |
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