6
The Unrepentance of Israel and Judah
1 Come, let us return to the LORD.
For He has torn us to pieces,
but He will heal us;
He has wounded us,
but He will bind up our wounds.
2 After two days He will revive us;
on the third day He will raise us up,
that we may live in His presence.
3 So let us know—
let us press on to know the LORD.
As surely as the sun rises,
He will appear;
He will come to us like the rain,
like the spring showers that water the earth.
4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim *?
What shall I do with you, O Judah?
For your loyalty is like a morning mist,
like the early dew that vanishes.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
I have slain them by the words of My mouth,
and My judgments go forth like lightning.
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,†
and the knowledge of God
rather than burnt offerings.
7 But they, like Adam, have transgressed ‡ the covenant;
there they were unfaithful to Me.
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,
tracked with footprints of blood.
9 Like raiders who lie in ambush,
so does a band of priests;
they murder on the way to Shechem;
surely they have committed atrocities.
10 In the house of Israel
I have seen a horrible thing:
Ephraim practices prostitution there,
and Israel is defiled.
11 Also for you, O Judah,
a harvest is appointed,
when I restore
My people from captivity.§
* 6:4 That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 10 † 6:6 Cited in Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 12:7 ‡ 6:7 Or As at Adam, they have transgressed § 6:11 Or restore the fortunes of My people