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, and let us return unto Yahweh! for, he, hath torn, that he might heal us, —smitten, that he might bind us up.

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

He will bring us to life, after two days, —on the third day, will he raise us up, that we may live before him.

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.

Then let us know—let us press on to know—Yahweh, Like the dawn, is his coming forth assured, —that he may come like a down-pour upon us, like the harvest-rain, [and] the seed-rain 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 can I do unto thee, O Ephraim? What can I do unto thee, O Judah? for, your lovingkindness, is like a morning cloud, yea, like the dew, early departing!

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.

For this cause, have I hewn them in pieces by the prophets, I have slain them by the sayings of my mouth, —and, my justice, as a light goeth forth.

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

For, lovingkindness, I desired, and not sacrifice, —and the knowledge of God, more than ascending-offerings.

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

But, they, like Adam, have transgressed a covenant, —There, have they dealt treacherously with me.

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

Gilead, is a city of workers of iniquity, —tracked with 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.

And, like liers in wait for a man, in troops, is a band of priests, on the road, will they murder towards Shechem, —because, a shameful deed, they have done.

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

In the house of Israel, have I seen a horrible thing, —there, the unchastity of Ephraim, defiled is Israel.

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

Judah too! a harvest is appointed for thee, —in that I will bring back the captivity of my people.