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, 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.

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 will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him.

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.”

And let us know, let us follow on 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.

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.

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 goeth early away.

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 have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are [as] the light that goeth forth.

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

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more 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 have they dealt treacherously against me.

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

Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, it is stained with 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.

And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way toward Shechem; yea, they have committed lewdness.

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 an horrible thing: there whoredom is [found] in Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

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

Also, O Judah, there is an harvest appointed for thee, when I bring again the captivity of my people.