Hosea 6

1 '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.

Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.

2 After two days will He revive us, on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.

After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.

3 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.'

So let us know— let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.

4 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.

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes.

5 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.

Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning.

6 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

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

7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant; there have they dealt treacherously against Me.

But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me.

8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, it is covered with footprints of blood.

Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with footprints of blood.

9 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.

Like raiders who lie in ambush, so does a band of priests; they murder on the way to Shechem; surely they have committed atrocities.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; there harlotry is found in Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: Ephraim practices prostitution there, and Israel is defiled.

11 Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for thee! When I would turn the captivity of My people,

Also for you, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I restore My people from captivity.