Come, and let us return unto the LORD, say the people, but their love is like a morning cloud and the early dew. God says: I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
1 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 .