Hosea 6

1 Come, and let vs returne to the Lord: for he hath spoyled, and he will heale vs: he hath wounded vs, and he will binde vs vp.

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 dayes will he reuiue vs, and in the third day he will raise vs vp, and we shall liue in his sight.

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

3 Then shall we haue knowledge, and indeuour our selues to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning, and he shall come vnto vs as the raine, and as the latter raine vnto the earth.

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 O Ephraim, what shall I doe vnto thee? O Iudah, how shall I intreate thee? for your goodnesse is as a morning cloude, and as the morning dewe it goeth away.

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 Therefore haue I cut downe by the Prophets: I haue slaine them by the wordes of my mouth, and thy iudgements were as the light that goeth forth.

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 desired mercie, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more then burnt offrings.

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

7 But they like men haue transgressed the couenant: there haue they trespassed against me.

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

8 Gilead is a citie of them that worke iniquitie, and is polluted with blood.

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

9 And as the eues waite for a man, so the companie of Priestes murder in the way by consent: for they worke mischiefe.

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 I haue seene vileny in the house of Israel: there is ye whoredome of Ephraim: Israel is defiled.

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

11 Yea, Iudah hath set a plant for thee, whiles I woulde returne ye captiuitie of my people.

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