Hosea 6
1 Come, and let us return unto Yahweh! for, he, hath torn, that he might heal us, —smitten, that he might bind us up.
[The Israeli people say, ] “Come, let’s return to Yahweh! He has caused [us] to be injured, but he will heal us. He has caused [us] to be wounded, but [it is as though] he will put bandages on our wounds [MET].
2 He will bring us to life, after two days, —on the third day, will he raise us up, that we may live before him.
After a very short time he will revive us; in less than three days he will restore us in order that we may live in his presence.
3 Then let us know—let us press on to know—Yahweh, Like the dawn, is his coming forth assured, —that he may come like a down-pour upon us, like the harvest-rain, [and] the seed-rain of the land.
We must try to know Yahweh; [if we do that, ] he will come [and help] us, as surely as the sun rises [every morning], as surely as rain falls every winter/cold season, and as surely as the rain falls again (in the springtime/at the end of the cold season).”
4 What can I do unto thee, O Ephraim? What can I do unto thee, O Judah? for, your lovingkindness, is like a morning cloud, yea, like the dew, early departing!
[But Yahweh knows they are insincere; ] [so he says to them, ] “You [people of] Israel, and you [people of] Judah, [I do not know] [RHQ] what I should do to you. Your being faithful [to me will disappear as quickly] as [SIM] the morning mist [disappears], like [SIM] the dew [on the ground] that disappears quickly [when the sun shines].
5 For this cause, have I hewn them in pieces by the prophets, I have slain them by the sayings of my mouth, —and, my justice, as a light goeth forth.
I warned [HYP] you by [the messages that I gave to] the prophets, [but you did not pay attention to my messages]. Therefore I will completely destroy you; the punishment that I give you will strike you like lightning.
6 For, lovingkindness, I desired, and not sacrifice, —and the knowledge of God, more than ascending-offerings.
I want [my people] to faithfully love [me] more than [I want them to offer] sacrifices [to me]; [I want them] to know me more than [I want them to] completely burn sacrifices [on the altar].
7 But, they, like Adam, have transgressed a covenant, —There, have they dealt treacherously with me.
But they have refused to obey my agreement, [just] like Adam did; they have not been faithful to me.
8 Gilead, is a city of workers of iniquity, —tracked with blood.
Gilead is a city [full] of people who do wicked things; [in the streets] are the bloody footprints [of those who have murdered others].
9 And, like liers in wait for a man, in troops, is a band of priests, on the road, will they murder towards Shechem, —because, a shameful deed, they have done.
The priests are like [SIM] bandits who wait (in ambushes/along the road) to attack people; they murder [people who are walking] on the road to Shechem, and they commit other disgraceful crimes.
10 In the house of Israel, have I seen a horrible thing, —there, the unchastity of Ephraim, defiled is Israel.
I have seen horrible things [being done] in Israel [MTY]. The people have abandoned me [like prostitutes who have abandoned their husbands] [MET]; [so the people of] Israel have become unacceptable to me.
11 Judah too! a harvest is appointed for thee, —in that I will bring back the captivity of my people.
And you [people of] Judah, I have appointed a time when I will punish [MET] you, too. Whenever I wanted to enable my people to prosper again,”
