1 In their affliction they will seek me early, saying, Let us go, and return to the Lord our God; for he has torn, and will heal us;
2 he will smite, and bind us up.
3 After two days he will heal us: in the third day we shall arise, and live before him, and shall know him:
4 let us follow on to know the Lord: we shall find him ready as the morning, and he will come to us as the early and latter rain to the earth.
5 What shall I do unto thee, Ephraim? What shall I do to thee, Juda? whereas your Comp. Heb. and Da 9:16 mercy is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew that goes away.
6 Therefore have I mown down your prophets; I have slain them with the word of my mouth: and my judgement shall go forth as the light.
7 Mt 9:13 For I will have mercy rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than whole-burnt-offerings.
8 But they are as a man transgressing a covenant:
9 there the city Galaad despised me, working vanity, troubling water.
10 And thy strength is that of a robber: the priests have hid the way, they have murdered the people of Sicima; for they have wrought iniquity in the house of Israel.
11 I have seen horrible things there, even the fornication of Ephraim: Israel and Juda are defiled;
12 begin together grapes for thyself, when I turn the captivity of my people.