Hosea 6

1 Come, and let us return to Jehovah, for he has torn, and he will heal us. He has smitten, and he will bind us up.

saying, “Come let us return to the Lord, for he has torn us but he will heal us, he has injured us but he will bandage our wounds,

2 After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him.

he will revive in a couple of days, on the third day he will raise us up again, to live in his presence.

3 And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah. His going forth is sure as the morning, and he will come to us as the rain, as the latter rain that waters the earth.

Let us know, let us eagerly seek to know the Lord. His coming is as sure as the sunrise. He will come to us like the winter rain, as the spring rain that waters the earth.”

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do to thee? O Judah, what shall I do to thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goes away early.

What can I make of you, Ephraim! What can I make of you, Judah! Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew which early goes away.

5 Therefore I have hewed them by the prophets. I have slain them by the words of my mouth. And thy judgments are as the light that goes forth.

That is why I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth. My judgment is like the light that goes forth,

6 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

for it is love that I delight in and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God and not burnt offerings.

7 But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant. There they have dealt treacherously against me.

But they after the manner of men have transgressed the covenant, there they have played me false.

8 Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity; it is stained with blood.

Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with bloody footprints,

9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way toward Shechem. Yea, they have committed iniquity.

and as bandits lie in wait for a man, so a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem. How terrible is the evil they do!

10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel. Whoredom is there in Ephraim; Israel is defiled.

In Bethel I have seen a horrible thing. There Ephraim plays the prostitute, Israel is defiled.

11 Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for thee when I bring back the captivity of my people.

Judah for you also a harvest is set. When I would restore the fortunes of my people,