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.

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, that we may live in His presence.

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 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.'

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 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 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 thy 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 desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather 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 men 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 covered with footprints of blood.

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

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.

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 I have seen a horrible thing; there harlotry is found in Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

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

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

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