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.

In their tribulation, they will arise early to me. Come, let us return to the Lord.

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

For he has seized us, and he will heal us. He will strike, and he will cure us.

3 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.

He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, and we will live in his sight. We will understand, and we will continue on, so that we may know the Lord. His landing place has been prepared like the first light of morning, and he will come to us like the early and the late rains of the land.

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 goeth early away.

What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am I to do with you, Judah? Your mercy is like the morning mist, and like the dew passing away in the morning.

5 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.

Because of this, I have cut them with the prophets, I have slain them with the words of my mouth; and your opinions will depart like the light.

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

For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God more than holocausts.

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

But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; in this, they have been dishonest with me.

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

Gilead is a city that manufactures idols; it has been tripped up by family relations.

9 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.

And, like those who rob with skillful words, they, by conspiring with the priests, bring a death sentence to travelers on a pilgrimage from Shechem; for they have been performing evil deeds.

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

I have seen horrible things in the house of Israel; the fornications of Ephraim are there. Israel has been contaminated.

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

But you, Judah, set a harvest for yourself, while I reverse the captivity of my people.