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.

“Come on! Let's go back to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces, but now he will heal us. He has struck us down, but now he will bind up our wounds.

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

In two days he will heal us; after three days he will raise us up so we can live in his presence.

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.

Let's get to know the Lord, really strive to know him, and he will appear to us as surely as the sun will rise; he will come to us as certainly as the spring rains fall on the earth.”

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.

Ephraim, what shall I do with you? Judah, what shall I do with you? Your love disappears like mist at dawn; it vanishes like dew 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.

So I cut you down through the prophets; I killed you with my words. My judgment shines out like a light.

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

I want your true love, not your sacrifices; I want you to know me, not your burnt offerings.

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

But you, just like Adam, broke our agreement, there you were unfaithful to me.

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

Gilead is a city of evil people where footprints are tracked in blood.

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.

Priests are like a gang of bandits, lying in wait to ambush travelers on the road. They commit murder in Shechem, carrying out wicked crimes.

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

I have seen in the house of Israel something totally disgusting: Ephraim engages in prostitution and Israel is sexually corrupt.

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

And as for you, Judah, your harvest-time has been set! When I restore the fortunes of my people,