Hosea 6

1 'Come, and let us return unto the LORD; for He hath torn, and He will heal us, He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.

“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.

2 After two days will He revive us, on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.

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

3 And let us know, eagerly strive to know the LORD, His going forth is sure as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth.'

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.”

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that early passeth away.

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.

5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and thy judgment goeth forth as the light.

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

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

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

7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant; there have they dealt treacherously against Me.

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

8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, it is covered with footprints of blood.

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

9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so doth the company of priests; they murder in the way toward Shechem; yea, they commit enormity.

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.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; there harlotry is found in Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

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

11 Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for thee! When I would turn the captivity of My people,

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