Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord ; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Impenitence of Israel and Judah

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early.

Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light.

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

But at Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me.

Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood.

As robbers lie in wait for someone, so the priests are banded together; they murder on the road to Shechem, they commit a monstrous crime.

In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim's whoredom is there, Israel is defiled.

For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed. When I would restore the fortunes of my people,

Israel's Sin and Captivity

Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars.

Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will break down their altars, and destroy their pillars.

For now they will say: “We have no king, for we do not fear the Lord , and a king—what could he do for us?”

They utter mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants; so litigation springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

The inhabitants of Samaria tremble for the calf of Beth-aven. Its people shall mourn for it, and its idolatrous priests shall wail over it, over its glory that has departed from it.

The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king. Ephraim shall be put to shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.

Samaria's king shall perish like a chip on the face of the waters.

The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars. They shall say to the mountains, Cover us, and to the hills, Fall on us.

Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel; there they have continued. Shall not war overtake them in Gibeah?

I will come against the wayward people to punish them; and nations shall be gathered against them when they are punished for their double iniquity.

Ephraim was a trained heifer that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will make Ephraim break the ground; Judah must plow; Jacob must harrow for himself.

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord , that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your power and in the multitude of your warriors,

therefore the tumult of war shall rise against your people, and all your fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle when mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.

Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness. At dawn the king of Israel shall be utterly cut off.

A Plea for Repentance

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.

Take words with you and return to the Lord ; say to him, “Take away all guilt; accept that which is good, and we will offer the fruit of our lips.

Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.”
Assurance of Forgiveness

I will heal their disloyalty; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.

I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily, he shall strike root like the forests of Lebanon.

His shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like that of Lebanon.

They shall again live beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom like the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me.

Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.