| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds. | 1Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, and He will heal us; He has wounded us, and He will bind up our wounds. |
| 2After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence. | 2He will revive us after two days, and on the third day He will raise us up so we can live in His presence. |
| 3So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth. | 3Let us strive to know the LORD. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land. |
| 4What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes. | 4What am I going to do with you, Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, Judah? Your loyalty is like the morning mist and like the early dew that vanishes. |
| 5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning. | 5This is why I have used the prophets to cut them down; I have killed them with the words of My mouth. My judgment strikes like lightning. |
| 6For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | 6For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. |
| 7But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me. | 7But they, like Adam, have violated the covenant; there they have betrayed Me. |
| 8Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with footprints of blood. | 8Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with bloody footprints. |
| 9Like raiders who lie in ambush, so does a band of priests; they murder on the way to Shechem; surely they have committed atrocities. | 9Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone, a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem. They commit atrocities. |
| 10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: Ephraim practices prostitution there, and Israel is defiled. | 10I have seen something horrible in the house of Israel: Ephraim's promiscuity is there; Israel is defiled. |
| 11Also for you, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I restore My people from captivity. | 11A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah. When I return My people from captivity, |
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