1 Come, and letHe shows the people that they ought to turn to the Lord, so that he might stop his plagues.us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
2 After two days willThough he correct us from time to time, yet his help will not be far off, if we return to him.he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
3 Then shall we haue knowledge, and indeuour our selues to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning, and he shall come vnto vs as the raine, and as the latter raine vnto the earth.
4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? forYou seem to have a certain holiness and repentance, but it is very sudden, and as a morning cloud.your goodness [is] as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
5 Therefore have II have still laboured by my prophets, and as it were prepared you to bring you to correction, but all was in vain: for my word was not food to feed them, but a sword to slay them.hewed [them] by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thyMy doctrine which I taught you, was most evident.judgments [are as] the light [that] goeth forth.
6 For I desiredHe shows to what his doctrine was aimed at, that they should unite the obedience of God, and the love of their neighbour, with outward sacrifices.mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7 But theyThat is, like small and weak persons.like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
8 Which was the place where the priests dwelt, and which should have been best instructed in my word.Gilead [is] a city of them that work iniquity, [and is] polluted with blood.
9 And as the eues waite for a man, so the companie of Priestes murther in the way by consent: for they worke mischiefe.
10 I haue seene vileny in the house of Israel: there is ye whoredome of Ephraim: Israel is defiled.
11 Also, O Judah, he hath set anThat is, imitates your idolatry, and has taken grafts of your trees.harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.
