Hosea 6

1 In their tribulation, they will arise early to me. Come, let us return to the Lord.

“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.

2 For he has seized us, and he will heal us. He will strike, and he will cure us.

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

3 He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, and we will live in his sight. We will understand, and we will continue on, so that we may know the Lord. His landing place has been prepared like the first light of morning, and he will come to us like the early and the late rains of the land.

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.”

4 What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am I to do with you, Judah? Your mercy is like the morning mist, and like the dew passing away in the morning.

“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.

5 Because of this, I have cut them with the prophets, I have slain them with the words of my mouth; and your opinions will depart like the light.

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.

6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God more than holocausts.

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

7 But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; in this, they have been dishonest with me.

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

8 Gilead is a city that manufactures idols; it has been tripped up by family relations.

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

9 And, like those who rob with skillful words, they, by conspiring with the priests, bring a death sentence to travelers on a pilgrimage from Shechem; for they have been performing evil deeds.

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

10 I have seen horrible things in the house of Israel; the fornications of Ephraim are there. Israel has been contaminated.

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

11 But you, Judah, set a harvest for yourself, while I reverse the captivity of my people.

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