New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 "Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up.
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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, that we may live before him.
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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 press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, 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 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 away early.
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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 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the 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 I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather 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 at Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me.
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But like a man, they have gone against the agreement; there they were false to me.
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood.
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Gilead is a town of evil-doers, marked with blood.
9 As robbers lie in wait for someone, so the priests are banded together; they murder on the road to Shechem, they commit a monstrous crime.
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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 Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim's whoredom is there, Israel 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 also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed. When I would restore the fortunes of my people,
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And Judah has put up disgusting images for himself.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.