The Unrepentance of Israel and Judah
1In 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; he will smite, and bind us up.
2 After two days he will heal us: in the third day we shall arise, and live before him, and shall knowhim:
3 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.
4 What shall I do unto thee, Ephraim? What shall I do to thee, Juda? whereas your mercy is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew that goes away.
5 Therefore have I mown down your prophets; I have slain them with the word of my mouth: and my judgment shall go forth as the light.
6 For I willhave mercy rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than whole-burnt-offerings.
7 But they are as a man transgressing a covenant:
8 there the city Galaad despised me, working vanity, troubling water.
9 And thy strengthis that of a robber: the priests have hid the way, they have murderedthe people of Sicima; for they have wrought iniquity in the house of Israel.
10 I have seen horriblethings there,even the fornication of Ephraim: Israel and Juda are defiled;
11 begin together grapes for thyself, when I turn the captivity of my people.
