GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
1 Let's return to the LORD. Even though he has torn us to pieces, he will heal us. Even though he has wounded us, he will bandage our wounds.
1
“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.
2 After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us so that we may live in his presence.
2
After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.
3 Let's learn about the LORD. Let's get to know the LORD. He will come to us as sure as the morning comes. He will come to us like the autumn rains and the spring rains that water the ground.
3
Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
4 "What should I do with you, Ephraim? What should I do with you, Judah? Your love is like fog in the morning. It disappears as quickly as the morning dew.
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“What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.
5 That is why I cut [you] down by sending the prophets. I killed you with the words from my mouth. My judgments shined on you like light.
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Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth— then my judgments go forth like the sun.
6 I want your loyalty, not your sacrifices. I want you to know me, not to give me burnt offerings.
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For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
7 "Like Adam, you rejected the promise. You were unfaithful to me.
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As at Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.
8 Gilead is a city filled with troublemakers. It is stained with bloody footprints.
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Gilead is a city of evildoers, stained with footprints of blood.
9 The priests are like gangs of robbers who lie in ambush for a person. They murder on the road to Shechem. Certainly, they have committed a crime.
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As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, carrying out their wicked schemes.
10 "I have seen horrible things in the nation of Israel. Ephraim is acting like a prostitute, and Israel is unclean.
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I have seen a horrible thing in Israel: There Ephraim is given to prostitution, Israel is defiled.
11 "Yet, Judah, I have set a harvest time for you when I bring my people back from captivity.
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“Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed. “Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.