< Hosea 6 >
1 In their affliction they will rise early to me: Come, and let us return to the Lord:
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.
2 For he hath taken 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, and we shall live before his face;
3 He will revive us after two days: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. We shall know, and we shall follow on, that we may know the Lord. His going forth is prepared as the morning light, and he will come to us as the early and the latter rain to the earth.
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.
4 What shall I do to thee, O Ephraim? what shall I do to thee, O Juda? your mercy is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goeth away in the morning.
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.
5 For this reason have I hewed them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments shall go forth as the light.
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.
6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God more than holocausts.
For I delight in loving-kindness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.
7 But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant, there have they dealt treacherously against me.
But they like Adam have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
8 Galaad is a city of workers of idols, supplanted with blood.
Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity; it is tracked with blood.
9 And like the jaws of highway robbers, they conspire with the priests who murder in the way those that pass out Sichem: for they have wrought wickedness.
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.
10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: the fornications of Ephraim there: Israel is defiled.
In the house of Israel have I seen a horrible thing: the whoredom of Ephraim is there; Israel is defiled.
11 And thou also, O Juda, set thee a harvest, when I shall bring back captivity of my people.
Also, for thee, Judah, is a harvest appointed, when I shall turn again the captivity of my people.