6:1  Come and let us return to the LORD, for He has torn, and He will heal us; He has smitten, and He will bind us up.

6:2  After two days He will revive us; in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.

6:3  Then we shall understand, if we follow on to know the LORD. His going out is prepared as the morning; and He shall come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth.

6:4  "O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your goodness is like a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away.

6:5  So I have cut them down by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth. And the judgments against you are as the light that goes forth,

6:6  For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

6:7  But, like men, they have broken the covenant. They have acted like traitors against Me there.

6:8  Gilead is a city of troublemakers, and is polluted with blood.

6:9  And as troops of robbers wait for a man, the company of priests murder in the way of Shechem; for they committed wickedness.

6:10  I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel; the whoredom of Ephraim is there; Israel is defiled.

6:11  Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed to you, when I reverse the captivity of My people."