Hosea 6

1 “Come! Let’s return to the LORD; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds.

Come and let us return unto Jehovah: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

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

After two days will he revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before his face;

3 Let’s acknowledge the LORD. Let’s press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, the LORD will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”

and we shall know, — we shall follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is assured as the morning dawn; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain which watereth the earth.

4 “Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early.

What shall I do unto thee, Ephraim? What shall I do unto thee, Judah? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that early passeth away.

5 Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets; I killed them with the words of my mouth. Your judgments are like a flash of lightning.

Therefore have I hewed [them] by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and my judgment goeth forth as the light.

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

For I delight in loving-kindness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

7 But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me there.

But they like Adam have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

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

Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity; it is tracked with blood.

9 As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man, so the company of priests murder on the path toward Shechem, committing shameful crimes.

And as troops of robbers lie in wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way of Shechem; yea, they commit lewdness.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled.

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

11 “Also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people.

Also, for thee, Judah, is a harvest appointed, when I shall turn again the captivity of my people.