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.

saying, ‘Come let us return to the Lord, for he has torn us but he will heal us, he has injured us but he will bandage our wounds,

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

he will revive in a couple of days, on the third day he will raise us up again, to 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.”

Let us know, let us eagerly seek to know the Lord. His coming is as sure as the sunrise. He will come to us like the winter rain, as the spring rain that waters 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.

What can I make of you, Ephraim! What can I make of you, Judah! Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew which early goes 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.

That is why I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth. My judgment is like the light that goes forth,

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

for it is love that I delight in and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God and not burnt offerings.

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

But they after the manner of men have transgressed the covenant, there they have played me false.

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

Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with bloody footprints,

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 bandits lie in wait for a man, so a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem. How terrible is the evil they do!

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

In Bethel I have seen a horrible thing. There Ephraim plays the prostitute, Israel is defiled.

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

Judah for you also a harvest is set. When I would restore the fortunes of my people,