CHAPTER 6

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; 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 know Him.

3 Let us pursue the knowledge of 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 you, Ephraim? What shall I do to you, Judah? For 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 desire 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 Gilead despised Me, working vanity, troubling water.

9 And your strength is that of a robber. The priests have hid the way, they have murdered the people of Shechem; for they have wrought iniquity in the house of Israel.

10 I have seen horrible things there, even the fornication of Ephraim. Israel and Judah are defiled;

11 a harvest is appointed for you, when I return the captives of My people.