The Unrepentance of Israel and Judah

Come, let us return to the LORD.

For He has torn us to pieces,

but He will heal us;

He has wounded us,

but He will bind up our wounds.

2 

After two days He will revive us;

on the third day He will raise us up,

that we may live in His presence.

3 

So let us know —

let us press on to know the LORD.

As surely as the sun rises,

He will appear;

He will come to us like the rain,

like the spring showers that water the earth.

4 

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim[fn]?

What shall I do with you, O Judah?

For your loyalty is like a morning mist,

like the early dew that vanishes.

5 

Therefore I have hewn [them] by the prophets;

I have slain them by the words of My mouth,

and My judgments go forth like lightning.

6 

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,[fn]

and the knowledge of God

rather than burnt offerings.

7 

But they, like Adam, have transgressed[fn] the covenant;

there they were unfaithful to Me.

8 

Gilead is a city of evildoers

tracked with footprints of blood.

9 

Like raiders who lie in ambush

[so does] a band of priests;

they murder on the way to Shechem;

surely they have committed atrocities.

10 

In the house of Israel

I have seen a horrible thing:

Ephraim practices prostitution there,

[and] Israel is defiled.

11 

Also for you, O Judah,

a harvest is appointed,

when I restore

My people from captivity.[fn] 7