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v1
Come, let us return to Yahweh; because it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck us down and will bind us up.
v2
He will revive us after two days;
on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live in his presence. ^[Or “before his face”]
v3
Let us know, let us press on to know Yahweh; his rising is sure like the dawn. He will come like the showers to us, like the spring rain that waters the earth.
v4
What will I do with you, O Ephraim? What will I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early in the morning.
v5
Therefore, I have hewn them by the prophets; I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment ^[Hebrew “your judgments”] goes forth like the light.
v6
Because I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
v7
But like Adam, they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me.
v8
Gilead is a city of evil, a cunning city because of blood. ^[The Hebrew is difficult; NRSV translates “tracked with blood”]
v9
Like bandits lying in wait, so is a band of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem; indeed, they commit a monstrous crime.
v10
In the house of Israel I have seen something horrible; Ephraim’s unfaithfulness is there. Israel is defiled.
v11
For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I restore the fortunes of my people,