Chapter 6

Come,³ and let us return⁴ unto the LORD: for he hath torn,¹ and he will heal⁴ us; he hath smitten,⁵⁵ and he will bind us up.⁴

After two days will he revive¹⁷ us: in the third day he will raise us up,⁵⁵ and we shall live⁴ in his sight.

Then shall we know,⁴ [if] we follow⁴ on to know² the LORD: his going forth is prepared¹² as the morning; and he shall come⁴ unto us as the rain, as the latter [and] former rain⁶ unto the earth.

O Ephraim, what shall I do⁴ unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do⁴ unto thee? for your goodness [is] as a morning cloud, and as the early⁵⁶ dew it goeth away.⁶

Therefore have I hewed¹ [them] by the prophets; I have slain¹ them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments [are as] the light [that] goeth forth.⁴

For I desired¹ mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

But they like men have transgressed¹ the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously¹ against me.

Gilead [is] a city of them that work⁶ iniquity, [and is] polluted with blood.

And as troops of robbers wait¹⁵ for a man, [so] the company of priests murder¹⁷ in the way by consent: ⁷⁹²⁷ for they commit¹ lewdness.

I have seen¹ an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there [is] the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.⁸

Also, O Judah, he hath set¹ an harvest for thee, when I returned² the captivity of my people.