Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant
“Come, let us areturn to the Lord;
for bhe has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, and che will bind us up.
2 After two days ahe will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
3 aLet us know; alet us press on to know the Lord;
bhis going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us cas the showers,
das the spring rains that water the earth.”
4 What shall I do with you, aO bEphraim?
What shall I do with you, O bJudah?
Your love is clike a morning cloud,
clike the dew that goes early away.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
I have slain them aby the words of my mouth,
and my judgment goes forth as the light.
6 For aI desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
bthe knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
7 But alike Adam they btransgressed the covenant;
cthere they dealt faithlessly with me.
8 aGilead is a city of evildoers,
btracked with blood.
9 As robbers alie in wait for a man,
so the priests band together;
they murder on the way to bShechem;
they commit villainy.
10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;
aEphraim’s whoredom is there; bIsrael is defiled.
11 For you also, O aJudah, ba harvest is appointed.
When cI restore the fortunes of my people,