Hosea 6
1 [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].
Come, and let us return unto Yahweh! for, he, hath torn, that he might heal us, —smitten, that he might bind us up.
2 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.
He will bring us to life, after two days, —on the third day, will he raise us up, that we may live before him.
3 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).”
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.
4 [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].
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!
5 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.
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.
6 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].
For, lovingkindness, I desired, and not sacrifice, —and the knowledge of God, more than ascending-offerings.
7 But they have refused to obey my agreement, [just] like Adam did; they have not been faithful to me.
But, they, like Adam, have transgressed a covenant, —There, have they dealt treacherously with me.
8 Gilead is a city [full] of people who do wicked things; [in the streets] are the bloody footprints [of those who have murdered others].
Gilead, is a city of workers of iniquity, —tracked with blood.
9 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.
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.
10 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.
In the house of Israel, have I seen a horrible thing, —there, the unchastity of Ephraim, defiled is Israel.
11 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,”
Judah too! a harvest is appointed for thee, —in that I will bring back the captivity of my people.
