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 up our wounds.

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

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 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.

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 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.

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

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

7 But they, like an ordinary man, 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 Gil'ad is become a city of workers of wickedness, is full of traces of blood.

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

9 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.

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

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

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

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