Hosea 6

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

saying, ‘Come let us return to the Lord, for he has torn us but he will heal us, he has injured us but he will bandage our wounds,

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

he will revive in a couple of days, on the third day he will raise us up again, to 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.

Let us know, let us eagerly seek to know the Lord. His coming is as sure as the sunrise. He will come to us like the winter rain, as the spring rain that waters 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.

What can I make of you, Ephraim! What can I make of you, Judah! Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew which early goes 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.

That is why I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth. My judgment is like the light that goes forth,

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

for it is love that I delight in and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God and not burnt offerings.

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

But they after the manner of men have transgressed the covenant, there they have played me false.

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

Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with bloody footprints,

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 bandits lie in wait for a man, so a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem. How terrible is the evil they do!

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

In Bethel I have seen a horrible thing. There Ephraim plays the prostitute, Israel is defiled.

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

Judah for you also a harvest is set. When I would restore the fortunes of my people,