Hosea 6

1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has smitten, and he will bind us up.

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind up our wounds.

2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

He will revive us after two days: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his presence.

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

And let us feel it, that we may strive to know the Lord; bright as the morning-dawn is his rising; and he will come as the rain unto us, as the latter rain that maketh fruitful the earth.”

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto you? O Judah, what shall I do unto you? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away.

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

5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and your judgments are as the light that goes forth.

Therefore did I hew [them] down by means of the prophets; I slew them by the words of my mouth: and thy punishments go forth like the light.

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

For piety I desired, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God, more than burnt-offerings.

7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

But they, like an ordinary man, have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.

Gil'ad is become a city of workers of wickedness, is full of traces of blood.

9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.

And as troops that lie in wait for a man, so is the band of priests, they murder on the way in unison; for they commit scandalous deeds.

10 I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

On the house of Israel have I seen a horrible thing: there is lewdness in Ephraim, Israel is become defiled.

11 Also, O Judah, he has set an harvest for you, when I returned the captivity of my people.

Also for thee, O Judah, will a harvest be prepared, when I bring back the captivity of my people.