A Call to Yahweh

1 Come, let us return to Yahweh;

because it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;

he has struck us down and will bind us up.

2 He will revive us after two days;

on the third day he will raise us up,

that we may live in his presence.

3 Let us know, let us press on to know Yahweh;

his rising is sure like the dawn.

He will come like the showers to us,

like the spring rain that waters the earth.

4 What will I do with you, O Ephraim?

What will I do with you, O Judah?

Your love is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that goes away early in the morning.

5 Therefore, I have hewn them by the prophets;

I have killed them by the words of my mouth,

and my judgmentgoes forth like the light.

6 Because I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

7 But like Adam, they transgressed the covenant;

there they dealt faithlessly with me.

8 Gilead is a city of evil,

a cunning city because of blood.

9 Like bandits lying in wait,

so is a band of priests;

they murder on the road to Shechem;

indeed, they commit a monstrous crime.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen something horrible;

Ephraim’s unfaithfulness is there.

Israel is defiled.

Ephraim’s Guilt

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

when I restore the fortunes of my people,