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 Yahweh! for, he, hath torn, that he might heal us, —smitten, that he might bind us up.

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 bring us to life, after two days, —on the third day, will he raise us up, that we may live before him.

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.”

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 “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 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 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.

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

For, lovingkindness, I desired, and not sacrifice, —and the knowledge of God, more than ascending-offerings.

7 But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me there.

But, they, like Adam, have transgressed a covenant, —There, have they dealt treacherously with me.

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

Gilead, is a city of workers of iniquity, —tracked with 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, 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 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled.

In the house of Israel, have I seen a horrible thing, —there, the unchastity of Ephraim, defiled is Israel.

11 “Also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people.

Judah too! a harvest is appointed for thee, —in that I will bring back the captivity of my people.