< Hosea 6 >
1 In their tribulation, they will arise early to me. Come, let us return to the Lord.
'Come, and let us return unto the LORD; for He hath torn, and He will heal us, He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.
2 For he has seized us, and he will heal us. He will strike, and he will cure us.
After two days will He revive us, on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.
3 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.
And let us know, eagerly strive to know the LORD, His going forth is sure as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth.'
4 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.
O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that early passeth away.
5 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.
Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and thy judgment goeth forth as the light.
6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God more than holocausts.
For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.
7 But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; in this, they have been dishonest with me.
But they like men have transgressed the covenant; there have they dealt treacherously against Me.
8 Gilead is a city that manufactures idols; it has been tripped up by family relations.
Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, it is covered with footprints of blood.
9 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.
And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so doth the company of priests; they murder in the way toward Shechem; yea, they commit enormity.
10 I have seen horrible things in the house of Israel; the fornications of Ephraim are there. Israel has been contaminated.
In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; there harlotry is found in Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
11 But you, Judah, set a harvest for yourself, while I reverse the captivity of my people.
Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for thee! When I would turn the captivity of My people,