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1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
4 ¶ O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.* 5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.† 6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.‡ 8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.§ 9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.**†† 10 I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled. 11 Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.
* 6:4 goodness: or, mercy, or, kindness † 6:5 and…: or, that thy judgments might be, etc ‡ 6:7 men: or, Adam § 6:8 polluted: or, cunning for ** 6:9 by…: Heb. with one shoulder, or, to Shechem †† 6:9 lewdness: or, enormity