Hosea 6

1 Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.

In their tribulation, they will arise early to me. Come, let us return to the Lord.

2 After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.

For he has seized us, and he will heal us. He will strike, and he will cure us.

3 So let us know— let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.

He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, and we will live in his sight. We will understand, and we will continue on, so that we may know the Lord. His landing place has been prepared like the first light of morning, and he will come to us like the early and the late rains of the land.

4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes.

What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am I to do with you, Judah? Your mercy is like the morning mist, and like the dew passing away in the morning.

5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning.

Because of this, I have cut them with the prophets, I have slain them with the words of my mouth; and your opinions will depart like the light.

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

For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God more than holocausts.

7 But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me.

But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; in this, they have been dishonest with me.

8 Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with footprints of blood.

Gilead is a city that manufactures idols; it has been tripped up by family relations.

9 Like raiders who lie in ambush, so does a band of priests; they murder on the way to Shechem; surely they have committed atrocities.

And, like those who rob with skillful words, they, by conspiring with the priests, bring a death sentence to travelers on a pilgrimage from Shechem; for they have been performing evil deeds.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: Ephraim practices prostitution there, and Israel is defiled.

I have seen horrible things in the house of Israel; the fornications of Ephraim are there. Israel has been contaminated.

11 Also for you, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I restore My people from captivity.

But you, Judah, set a harvest for yourself, while I reverse the captivity of my people.