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! 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.

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

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

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.”

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled.

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

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