The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Come, let us return to ADONAI; for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck, and he will bind our wounds.
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Come, let us go back to the Lord; for he has given us wounds and he will make us well; he has given blows and he will give help.
2 After two days, he will revive us; on the third day, he will raise us up; and we will live in his presence.
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After two days he will give us life, and on the third day he will make us get up, and we will be living before him.
3 Let us know, let us strive to know ADONAI. That he will come is as certain as morning; he will come to us like the rain, like the spring rains that water the earth.
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And let us have knowledge, let us go after the knowledge of the Lord; his going out is certain as the dawn, his decisions go out like the light; he will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.
4 "Efrayim, what should I do to you? Y'hudah, what should I do to you? For your 'faithful love' is like a morning cloud, like dew that disappears quickly.
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O Ephraim, what am I to do to you? O Judah, what am I to do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew which goes early away.
5 This is why I have cut them to pieces by the prophets, slaughtered them with the words from my mouth - the judgment on you shines out like light.
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So I have had it cut in stones; I gave them teaching by the words of my mouth;
6 For what I desire is mercy, not sacrifices, knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
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Because my desire is for mercy and not offerings; for the knowledge of God more than for burned offerings.
7 "But they, just like men, have broken the covenant, they have been faithless in dealing with me.
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But like a man, they have gone against the agreement; there they were false to me.
8 Gil'ad is a city of criminals, covered with bloody footprints;
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Gilead is a town of evil-doers, marked with blood.
9 just as bands of robbers wait to ambush someone, so does a gang of cohanim. They commit murder on the road to Sh'khem! Their conduct is an outrage!
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And like a band of thieves waiting for a man, so are the priests watching secretly the way of those going quickly to Shechem, for they are working with an evil design.
10 In the house of Isra'el I have seen a horrible thing; whoring is found there in Efrayim, Isra'el is defiled.
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In Israel I have seen a very evil thing; there false ways are seen in Ephraim, Israel is unclean;
11 For you, too, Y'hudah, a harvest will come! "When I restore the fortunes of my people,
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And Judah has put up disgusting images for himself.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.