Chapter 6

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord;

for he has torn, that he may heal us;

he has stricken, and he will bind us up.

2 After two days he will revive us;

on the third day he will raise us up,

that we may live before him.

3 Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;

his going forth is sure as the dawn;

he will come to us as the showers,

as the spring rains that water the earth.”

4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?

What shall I do with you, O Judah?

Your love is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that goes early away.

5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,

I have slain them by the words of my mouth,

and my judgment goes forth as the light.u

6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings.

7 But atv Adam they transgressed the covenant;

there they dealt faithlessly with me.

8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,

tracked with blood.

9 As robbers lie in waitw for a man,

so the priests are banded together;*

they murder on the way to Shechem,

yea, they commit villainy.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;

Ephraim’s harlotry is there, Israel is defiled.

11 For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.

When I would restore the fortunes of my people,