A Call to Repentance
1 Come,and let us return to theLord;
# ForHe has torn, butHe will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
2 After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
3 Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of theLord.
# His going forth is establishedas the morning;
# He will come to uslike the rain,
Like the latterandformer rain to the earth.
Impenitence of Israel and Judah
4 “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you?
O Judah, what shall I do to you?
For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud,
And like the early dew it goes away.
5 Therefore I have hewnthemby the prophets,
# I have slain them bythe words of My mouth;
And your judgmentsarelikelightthatgoes forth.
6 For I desiremercy andnot sacrifice,
# And theknowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7 “But like men they transgressed the covenant;
There they dealt treacherously with Me.
8 Gileadisa city of evildoers
Anddefiled with blood.
9 As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man,
# Sothe company ofpriestsmurder on the way to Shechem;
# Surely they commitlewdness.
10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel:
Thereisthe harlotry of Ephraim;
Israel is defiled.
11 Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you,
When I return the captives of My people.