The Lord's People Speak
1 Let's return to the Lord.
He has torn us to shreds,
but he will bandage our wounds
and make us well.
2 In two or three days
he will heal us
and restore our strength
that we may live with him.
3 Let's do our best
to know the Lord.
His coming is as certain
as the morning sun;
he will refresh us like rain
renewing the earth
in the springtime.
The Lord Speaks to Israel and Judah
4 People of Israel and Judah,
what can I do with you?
Your love for me disappears
more quickly than mist
or dew at sunrise.
5 That's why I slaughtered you
with the words
of my prophets.
That's why my judgments blazed
like the dawning sun.
6 I'd rather for you to be faithful
and to know me
than to offer sacrifices.
7 At a place named Adam,
you betrayed me
by breaking our agreement.
8 Everyone in Gilead is evil;
your hands are stained
with the blood of victims.
9 You priests are like a gang
of robbers in ambush.
On the road to Shechem
you murder and commit
other horrible crimes.
10 I have seen a terrible thing
in Israel—
you are unfaithful
and unfit to worship me.
11 People of Judah,
your time is coming too.
The Lord Wants To Help Israel
I, the Lord, would like to make
my nation prosper again
1 Come, and let vs returne to the Lord: for he hath spoyled, and he will heale vs: he hath wounded vs, and he will binde vs vp. 2 After two dayes will he reuiue vs, and in the third day he will raise vs vp, and we shall liue in his sight. 3 Then shall we haue knowledge, and indeuour our selues to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning, and he shall come vnto vs as the raine, and as the latter raine vnto the earth. 4 O Ephraim, what shall I doe vnto thee? O Iudah, how shall I intreate thee? for your goodnesse is as a morning cloude, and as the morning dewe it goeth away. 5 Therefore haue I cut downe by the Prophets: I haue slaine them by the wordes of my mouth, and thy iudgements were as the light that goeth forth. 6 For I desired mercie, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more then burnt offrings. 7 But they like men haue transgressed the couenant: there haue they trespassed against me. 8 Gilead is a citie of them that worke iniquitie, and is polluted with blood. 9 And as the eues waite for a man, so the companie of Priestes murder in the way by consent: for they worke mischiefe. 10 I haue seene vileny in the house of Israel: there is ye whoredome of Ephraim: Israel is defiled. 11 Yea, Iudah hath set a plant for thee, whiles I woulde returne ye captiuitie of my people.