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. (Isa 30:26; Ho 3:5; Ho 5:14; Ho 13:7; Ho 14:1)2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. (Ps 71:20; Lu 24:27; Lu 24:44; Joh 2:22; Joh 20:9; 1Co 15:4)3Let 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.” (Ho 4:6; Ho 14:5; Joe 2:23; Mic 5:2)4What 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. (Ho 4:15; Ho 5:5; Ho 5:9; Ho 6:10; Ho 8:14; Ho 10:11; Ho 11:8; Ho 11:12; Ho 12:1; Ho 13:3)5Therefore 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. (Jer 23:29; Heb 4:12)6For I desire steadfast love[1] and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. (1Sa 15:22; Ho 2:20; Mt 9:13; Mt 12:7)7But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me. (Ge 3:11; De 17:2; Job 31:33; Ho 5:7; Ho 8:1; Ro 5:14)8Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood. (Ho 4:2; Ho 12:11)9As robbers lie in wait for a man, so the priests band together; they murder on the way to Shechem; they commit villainy. (Jos 24:1; Ho 5:1; Ho 7:6)10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim’s whoredom is there; Israel is defiled. (Ho 4:2; Ho 4:12; Ho 4:14; Ho 5:3; Ho 6:4; Ho 7:4; Ho 9:10)11For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed. When I restore the fortunes of my people, (Job 42:10; Ps 126:1; Ho 6:10; Joe 3:13)