Aa
A Call to Repentance
1Come, let’s return to the Lord.6:1 Jr 50:4–5
For he has torn us,6:1 Hs 5:14
and he will heal us;6:1 Hs 14:4
he has wounded us,
and he will bind up our wounds.6:1 Is 30:26
2He will revive us after two days,6:2 Ps 30:5
and on the third day he will raise us up
so we can live in his presence.6:2 Dt 32:39
3Let’s strive to know the Lord.6:3 Is 2:3; Mc 4:2
His appearance is as sure as the dawn.6:3 Ps 19:6; Mc 5:2
He will come to us like the rain,6:3 Jl 2:23
like the spring showers that water the land.
The Lord’s First Lament
4What am I going to do with you, Ephraim?6:4 Hs 7:1; 11:8
What am I going to do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist6:4 Ps 78:34–37
and like the early dew that vanishes.
5This is why I have used the prophets
to cut them down;6:5 Or have cut down the prophets6:5 1Sm 15:32–33; Jr 1:10,18; 5:14
I have killed them with the words from my mouth.
My judgment strikes like lightning.6:5 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads Your judgments go out as light
6For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God6:6 Hs 4:1 rather than burnt offerings.6:6 Mt 9:13; 12:7

7But they, like Adam,6:7 Or they, as at Adam, or they, like men, have violated the covenant;6:7 Hs 8:1
there they have betrayed me.6:7 Hs 5:7

8Gilead is a city of evildoers,6:8 Hs 12:11
tracked with bloody footprints.6:8 Hs 4:2
9Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone,6:9 Hs 7:1
a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem.6:9 Jr 7:9–10; Hs 4:2
They commit atrocities.6:9 Ezk 22:9; 23:27; Hs 2:10
10I have seen something horrible6:10 Jr 5:30–31; 23:14 in the house of Israel:
Ephraim’s promiscuity is there;6:10 Hs 5:3 Israel is defiled.

11A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah.6:11 Jr 51:33; Jl 3:13
When I restore the fortunes of my people,6:11 Zph 2:7