1‘Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.3Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.’4‘What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.5Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth – then my judgments go forth like the sun.[1]6For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.7As at Adam,[2] they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.8Gilead is a city of evildoers, stained with footprints of blood.9As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, carrying out their wicked schemes.10I have seen a horrible thing in Israel: there Ephraim is given to prostitution, Israel is defiled.11‘Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed. ‘Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,