Hosea 6

1 “Come on! Let's go back to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces, but now he will heal us. He has struck us down, but now he will bind up our wounds.

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

2 In two days he will heal us; after three days he will raise us up so we can live in his presence.

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

3 Let's get to know the Lord, really strive to know him, and he will appear to us as surely as the sun will rise; he will come to us as certainly as the spring rains fall on the earth.”

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.

4 Ephraim, what shall I do with you? Judah, what shall I do with you? Your love disappears like mist at dawn; it vanishes like dew in the morning.

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.

5 So I cut you down through the prophets; I killed you with my words. My judgment shines out like a light.

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.

6 I want your true love, not your sacrifices; I want you to know me, not your burnt offerings.

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

7 But you, just like Adam, broke our agreement, there you were unfaithful to me.

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

8 Gilead is a city of evil people where footprints are tracked in blood.

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

9 Priests are like a gang of bandits, lying in wait to ambush travelers on the road. They commit murder in Shechem, carrying out wicked crimes.

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.

10 I have seen in the house of Israel something totally disgusting: Ephraim engages in prostitution and Israel is sexually corrupt.

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

11 And as for you, Judah, your harvest-time has been set! When I restore the fortunes of my people,

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