Hosea 6

1 Come, and let us return to the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind up our wounds.

2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day will he raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

He will revive us after two days: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his presence.

3 Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he will come to us as the rain, as the latter [and] former rain to the earth.

And let us feel it, that we may strive to know the Lord; bright as the morning-dawn is his rising; and he will come as the rain unto us, as the latter rain that maketh fruitful the earth.”

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do to thee? O Judah, what shall I do to thee? for your goodness [is] as the morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.

What shall I do unto thee, O Ephraim? what shall I do unto thee, O Judah? for your piety is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away.

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.

Therefore did I hew [them] down by means of the prophets; I slew them by the words of my mouth: and thy punishments go forth like the light.

6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

For piety I desired, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God, more than burnt-offerings.

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

But they, like an ordinary man, have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

8 Gilead [is] a city of them that work iniquity, [and is] polluted with blood.

Gil'ad is become a city of workers of wickedness, is full of traces of blood.

9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, [so] the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.

And as troops that lie in wait for a man, so is the band of priests, they murder on the way in unison; for they commit scandalous deeds.

10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: there [is] the prostitution of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

On the house of Israel have I seen a horrible thing: there is lewdness in Ephraim, Israel is become defiled.

11 Also, O Judah, he hath set a harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.

Also for thee, O Judah, will a harvest be prepared, when I bring back the captivity of my people.