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 up our wounds.

“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.

2 He will revive us after two days: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his presence.

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

3 And let us feel it, that we may strive to know the Lord; bright as the morning-dawn is his rising; and he will come as the rain unto us, as the latter rain that maketh fruitful the earth.”

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.”

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

“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 Therefore did I hew [them] down by means of the prophets; I slew them by the words of my mouth: and thy punishments go forth 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 piety I desired, 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 an ordinary man, have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

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

8 Gil'ad is become a city of workers of wickedness, is full of traces of blood.

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

9 And as troops that lie in wait for a man, so is the band of priests, they murder on the way in unison; for they commit scandalous 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 On the house of Israel have I seen a horrible thing: there is lewdness in Ephraim, Israel is become defiled.

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

11 Also for thee, O Judah, will a harvest be prepared, when I bring back the captivity of my people.

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