1“Come, let us return to the Lord,a For it is he who has torn, but he will heal us; he has struck down, but he will bind our wounds. 2He will revive us after two days; on the third day* he will raise us up,b to live in his presence. 3Let us know, let us strive to know the Lord; as certain as the dawn is his coming. He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.”c 4What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your loyalty is like morning mist, like the dew that disappears early. 5For this reason I struck them down through the prophets, I killed them by the words of my mouth;* d my judgment shines forth like the light. 6For it is loyalty that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.e Further Crimes of Israel7But they, at Adam,* violated the covenant; there they betrayed me. 8Gilead* is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood. 9Like brigands lying in wait is the band of priests. They murder on the road to Shechem,* indeed they commit a monstrous crime. 10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: there is found Ephraim’s prostitution, Israel is defiled. 11For you also, Judah, a harvest* has been appointed! Book IntroductionFootnotesScripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Home |
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