1An exhortation to repentance. 4A complaint against Israel and Judah for persisting still in their wickedness.
1Come, and 1let us return unto the Lord: for he 2hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
21After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
3Then 1shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: 2his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us 3as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
4¶ O Ephraim, 1what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your agoodness is2as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
5Therefore 1have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: aand thy judgments are 2as the light that goeth forth.
61For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7But they alike men 1have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
81Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and isapolluted with blood.
91And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way aby consent: for they commit blewdness.
10I have seen 1an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is2the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
11Also, O Judah, he hath set 1an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.