Hosea 6

1 Come and let us return unto Jehovah: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

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 After two days will he revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before his face;

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

3 and we shall know, — we shall follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is assured as the morning dawn; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain which watereth the earth.

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 shall I do unto thee, Ephraim? What shall I do unto thee, Judah? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that early passeth away.

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 Therefore have I hewed [them] by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and my judgment goeth forth as 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 delight in loving-kindness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

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: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

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

8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity; it is tracked with blood.

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

9 And as troops of robbers lie in wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way of Shechem; yea, they commit lewdness.

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 In the house of Israel have I seen a horrible thing: the whoredom of Ephraim is there; Israel is defiled.

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

11 Also, for thee, Judah, is a harvest appointed, when I shall turn again the captivity of my people.

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