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Israel and Judah are Unrepentant

¹ Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.² After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.³ So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.

⁴ What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes.⁵ Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning.⁶ For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.⁷ But they, like Adam, have transgressed^(a) the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me.⁸ Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with footprints of blood.⁹ Like raiders who lie in ambush, so does a band of priests; they murder on the way to Shechem; surely they have committed atrocities.¹⁰ In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: There Ephraim practices prostitution and Israel is defiled.¹¹ Also for you, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I will restore My people from captivity^(a).