Israel Unrepentant

6 “Come, let us return to the Lord.He has torn us to piecesbut he will heal us;he has injured usbut he will bind up our wounds.² After two days he will revive us;on the third day he will restore us,that we may live in his presence.³ Let 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.⁵ Therefore 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.^[a]6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.⁷ As at Adam,^[b] they have broken the covenant;they were unfaithful to me there.⁸ Gilead is a city of evildoers,stained with footprints of blood.⁹ As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,so do bands of priests;they murder on the road to Shechem,carrying out their wicked schemes.¹⁰ I 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,