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[1] In their affliction they will seek me early, saying, Let us go, and return to the Lord our God; for he has torn, and will heal us;
[2] he will smite, and bind us up.
[3] After two days he will heal us: in the third day we shall arise, and live before him, and shall know him:
[4] let us follow on to know the Lord: we shall find him ready as the morning, and he will come to us as the early and latter rain to the earth.
[5] What shall I do unto thee, Ephraim? What shall I do to thee, Juda? whereas your mercy is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew that goes away.
[6] Therefore have I mown down your prophets; I have slain them with the word of my mouth: and my judgment shall go forth as the light.
[7] For I will have mercy rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than whole-burnt-offerings.
[8] But they are as a man transgressing a covenant:
[9] there the city Galaad despised me, working vanity, troubling water.
[10] And thy strength is that of a robber: the priests have hid the way, they have murdered the people of Sicima; for they have wrought iniquity in the house of Israel.
[11] I have seen horrible things there, even the fornication of Ephraim: Israel and Juda are defiled;
[12] begin together grapes for thyself, when I turn the captivity of my people.
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