An Oracle for Ephraim
1 Come, and let us return unto Yahweh,
for he has torn, but he will heal us,
he has smitten, but he 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 Then let us know,
let us strive to know Yahweh.
As the dawn is ready,
so is his going forth.
And he will come to us like the rain,
like the latter rain sprinkling the earth.
4 What shall I do to you, Ephraim?
What shall I do to you, Judah?
Your faithful love
is like a cloud in the morning,
and the morning dew that goes away.
5 Therefore I have cut them to pieces
by my prophets,
I have slain them
by the words of my mouth,
and the light of your judgments goes forth.
6 For I desire mercy
and not sacrifice,
and knowledge of God
over burnt offerings.
7 But they, as at Adam,
have transgressed the covenant,
there they were unfaithful to me.
8 Gilead is a city of workers of iniquity,
deceitful with blood,
9 and as a band of robbers
waiting for a man,
is a coven of priests.
The way of their murder is Shechem,
for they perform lewdness.
10 In the house of Israel
I have seen a horrible thing,
there is Ephraim's prostitution,
Israel is defiled.
11 Also Judah, a
harvest is set for you,
when I return the captivity of my people.