Hosea 6

1 “Come! Let’s return to the LORD; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up 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 up our wounds.

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

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

3 Let’s acknowledge the LORD. Let’s press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, the LORD will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters 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 “Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early.

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 I have cut them to pieces with the prophets; I killed them with the words of my mouth. Your judgments are like a flash of lightning.

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 desire 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 Adam, have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me there.

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

8 Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity; it is stained with blood.

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

9 As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man, so the company of priests murder on the path toward Shechem, committing shameful crimes.

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 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in 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, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people.

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