The Unrepentance of Israel and Judah

1Come and let us return to YHWH,

for He has torn us,

and He will heal us;

He has struck us,

and He will bind us up.

2He will revive us after two days;

on the third on the day He will raise us up,

that we may live before His face.

3And let us know,

let us press on to know YHWH.

Like the dawn,

His going forth is sure,

and He will come like the rain to us,

like the spring rain that showers the earth.

4What will I do to you, O Ephraim?†

What will I do to you, O Judah?

And your⁺ faithfulness is like a cloud of the morning,

and like the dew rising and going away.

5Upon thus, I have hewn them by the prophets,

I have killed them by the words of My mouth,

and My judgments go forth as the light!

6For I delight in mercy, and not sacrifice,†

and the knowledge of God

above burnt offerings.

7And they, like Adam, transgressed† the covenant;

there they were unfaithful with Me.

8Gilead is a city of workers of iniquity,

with a footprint of blood.

9Like raiders lying in wait for a man

is the band of priests;

they murder on the way to Shechem;

surely, they have committed wickedness.

10In the house of Israel

I have seen a horrible thing:

There is the prostitution of Ephraim;

Israel is defiled.

11Also, O Judah,

a harvest is set for you,

in My turning back

the captivity of My people.†