English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 "Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
1
"Come on, let's go back to God. He hurt us, but he'll heal us. He hit us hard, but he'll put us right again.
2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
2
In a couple of days we'll feel better. By the third day he'll have made us brand-new, Alive and on our feet, fit to face him.
3 Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."
3
We're ready to study God, eager for God-knowledge. As sure as dawn breaks, so sure is his daily arrival. He comes as rain comes, as spring rain refreshing the ground."
4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away.
4
"What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What do I make of you, Judah? Your declarations of love last no longer than morning mist and predawn dew.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light.
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That's why I use prophets to shake you to attention, why my words cut you to the quick: To wake you up to my judgment blazing like light.
6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
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I'm after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings.
7 But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me.
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You broke the covenant - just like Adam! You broke faith with me - ungrateful wretches!
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood.
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"Gilead has become Crime City - blood on the sidewalks, blood on the streets.
9 As robbers lie in wait for a man, so the priests band together; they murder on the way to Shechem; they commit villainy.
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It used to be robbers who mugged pedestrians. Now it's gangs of priests Assaulting worshipers on their way to Shechem. Nothing is sacred to them.
10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim's whoredom is there; Israel is defiled.
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"I saw a shocking thing in the country of Israel: Ephraim worshiping in a religious whorehouse, and Israel in the mud right there with him.
11 For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I restore the fortunes of my people.
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"You're as bad as the worst of them, Judah. You've been sowing wild oats. Now it's harvest time.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.