Hosea 6

1 “Come, let us return to Yahweh. For he has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us; he has injured us, but he will bandage 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 After two days he will revive us; he will raise us up on the third day, and we will live before him.

After two days will He revive us, on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.

3 Let us know Yahweh; let us press on to know Yahweh. His coming out is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the land.”

And let us know, eagerly strive 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 Ephraim, what will I do with you? Judah, what will I do with you? Your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early.

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 early passeth away.

5 So I have cut them to pieces by the prophets, I have killed them with the words of my mouth. Your decrees are like the light that shines out.

Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and thy judgment goeth forth as the light.

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

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

7 Like Adam they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me.

But they like men have transgressed the covenant; there have they dealt treacherously against Me.

8 Gilead is a city of evildoers with footprints of blood.

Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, it is covered with footprints of blood.

9 As gangs of robbers wait for someone, so the priests band together to commit murder on the way to Shechem; they have committed shameful crimes.

And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so doth the company of priests; they murder in the way toward Shechem; yea, they commit enormity.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim's prostitution is there, and Israel has become unclean.

In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; there harlotry is found in Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

11 For you also, Judah, a harvest has been appointed, when I will restore the fortunes of my people.

Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for thee! When I would turn the captivity of My people,