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.

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; he will raise us up on the third day, 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 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.”

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 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 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 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.

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

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

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

Gilead, is a city of workers of iniquity, —tracked with blood.

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, 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; Ephraim's prostitution is there, and Israel has become unclean.

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

11 For you also, Judah, a harvest has been appointed, when I will 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.