1 "Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but 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. [^1]6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.7 As at Adam, "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,

1 [In tribulatione sua mane consurgent ad me :Venite, et revertamur ad Dominum,2 quia ipse cepit, et sanabit nos ;percutiet, et curabit nos.3 Vivificabit nos post duos dies ;in die tertia suscitabit nos,et vivemus in conspectu ejus.Sciemus, sequemurque ut cognoscamus Dominum :quasi diluculum prparatus est egressus ejus,et veniet quasi imber nobis temporaneus et serotinus terr.4 Quid faciam tibi, Ephraim ?quid faciam tibi, Juda ?misericordia vestra quasi nubes matutina,et quasi ros mane pertransiens.5 Propter hoc dolavi in prophetis ;occidi eos in verbis oris mei :et judicia tua quasi lux egredientur.6 Quia misericordiam volui, et non sacrificium ;et scientiam Dei plus quam holocausta.7 Ipsi autem sicut Adam transgressi sunt pactum :ibi prvaricati sunt in me.8 Galaad civitas operantium idolum,supplantata sanguine.9 Et quasi fauces virorum latronum,particeps sacerdotum, in via interficientium pergentes de Sichem :quia scelus operati sunt.10 In domo Isral vidi horrendum :ibi fornicationes Ephraim,contaminatus est Isral.11 Sed et Juda, pone messem tibi,cum convertero captivitatem populi mei.]