Hosea 6

1 Come, and let vs returne to the Lord: for he hath spoyled, and he will heale vs: he hath wounded vs, and he will binde vs vp.

“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 dayes will he reuiue vs, and in the third day he will raise vs vp, and we shall liue in his sight.

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

3 Then shall we haue knowledge, and indeuour our selues to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning, and he shall come vnto vs as the raine, and as the latter raine vnto 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 O Ephraim, what shall I doe vnto thee? O Iudah, how shall I intreate thee? for your goodnesse is as a morning cloude, and as the morning dewe it goeth away.

“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 haue I cut downe by the Prophets: I haue slaine them by the wordes of my mouth, and thy iudgements were as the light that goeth forth.

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 desired mercie, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more then burnt offrings.

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

7 But they like men haue transgressed the couenant: there haue they trespassed against me.

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

8 Gilead is a citie of them that worke iniquitie, and is polluted with blood.

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

9 And as the eues waite for a man, so the companie of Priestes murder in the way by consent: for they worke mischiefe.

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

10 I haue seene vileny in the house of Israel: there is ye whoredome of Ephraim: Israel is defiled.

In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled.

11 Yea, Iudah hath set a plant for thee, whiles I woulde returne ye captiuitie of my people.

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