3. and know him.Let’s try to learn about the Lord;he will come to us as surely as the dawn comes.He will come to us like rain,like the spring rain that waters the ground.”
4. The Lord says, “Israel, what should I do with you?Judah, what should I do with you?Your faithfulness is like a morning mist,like the dew that goes away early in the day.
5. I have warned you by my prophetsthat I will kill you and destroy you.My justice comes out like bright light.
6. I want faithful lovemore than I want animal sacrifices.I want people to know memore than I want burnt offerings.
7. But they have broken the agreement as Adam did;they have been unfaithful to me.
8. Gilead is a city of people who do evil;their footprints are bloody.
9. The priests are like robbers waiting to attack people;they murder people on the road to Shechemand do wicked things.
10. I have seen horrible things in Israel.Look at Israel’s prostitution;Israel has become unclean.
11. “Judah, I have set a harvest time for youwhen I will make the lives of my people good again.