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¹ THEY shall say, Come, let us return and go to the LORD who has smitten us, and he will heal us; he has wounded us, and he will bind us up.² After two days he will revive us, and on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his presence.³ Then shall we know to follow after the knowledge of the LORD; his going forth is prepared as the dawn; and he shall come to us as the rain, as the spring rain which waters the earth.

⁴ O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away.⁵ Therefore have I cut off the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth; and my judgments shall go forth as the light.⁶ For I desired mercy and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.⁷ But they like men have transgressed my covenant; there have they dealt treacherously against me.⁸ Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity, and wallows in blood. Your strength is as that of a robber.⁹ The priests have joined them on the way, and they have destroyed Shechem, because they have committed iniquities.¹⁰ I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: there Ephraim committed whoredom, and Israel was defiled.¹¹ And you also, O Judah, set a day of harvest for yourself when I will bring back the captivity of my people.