Chapter 6

¹ Come, and let vs returne to the Lord: for he hath spoyled, and he will heale vs: he hath wounded vs, and he will binde vs vp. ² After two dayes will he reuiue vs, and in the third day he will raise vs vp, and we shall liue 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 doe vnto thee? O Iudah, how shall I intreate thee? for your goodnesse is as a morning cloude, and as the morning dewe it goeth away. ⁵ Therefore haue I cut downe by the Prophets: I haue slaine them by the wordes of my mouth, and thy iudgements were as the light that goeth forth. ⁶ For I desired mercie, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more then burnt offrings. ⁷ But they like men haue transgressed the couenant: there haue they trespassed against me. ⁸ Gilead is a citie of them that worke iniquitie, and is polluted with blood. ⁹ And as the eues waite for a man, so the companie of Priestes murder 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 Yea, Iudah hath set a plant for thee, whiles I woulde returne ye captiuitie of my people.