Hosea 6

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

“Come, and let us return to Jehovah! For he hath torn, and he will heal us; He hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

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

After two days will he revive us, On the third day he will raise us up, And we shall live in his presence,

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 us, therefore, know him; Let us ever strive to know Jehovah, His coming forth is sure as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter rain which watereth 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.

O Ephraim, what shall I do to thee? O Judah, what shall I do to thee? For your goodness is like the morning cloud, And like the early dew, which vanisheth away.

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 hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth, And my judgments have gone forth like the light.

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

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

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

But they, after the manner of men, have transgressed the covenant; Even therein have they dealt unfaithfully with me.

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

Gilead is a city of them that do iniquity; She is full of footsteps of 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 troops of robbers lying in wait for a man, so is the company of priests; They murder in the way to Shechem; Yea, they commit heinous wickedness.

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

I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel; There Ephraim committeth fornication, Israel is polluted.

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

For thee also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.