Hosea 6

1 “Come! Let’s return to Yahweh; 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 to Jehovah, for he has torn, and he will heal us. He has smitten, and he will 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.

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

3 Let’s acknowledge Yahweh. Let’s press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”

And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah. His going forth is sure as the morning, and he will come to us as the rain, as the latter rain that waters 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.

O Ephraim, what shall I do to thee? O Judah, what shall I do to thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goes away early.

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 I have hewed them by the prophets. I have slain them by the words of my mouth. And thy judgments are as the light that goes forth.

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

For I desire mercy, 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 like Adam they have transgressed the covenant. There they have dealt treacherously against me.

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

Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity; it is stained 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 as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way toward Shechem. Yea, they have committed iniquity.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled.

I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel. Whoredom is there in Ephraim; Israel is defiled.

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

Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for thee when I bring back the captivity of my people.