6 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.