Hosea 6

1 Come, and let us return to the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

saying, “Come let us return to the Lord, for he has torn us but he will heal us, he has injured us but he will bandage our wounds,

2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day will he raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

he will revive in a couple of days, on the third day he will raise us up again, to live in his presence.

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth.

Let us know, let us eagerly seek to know the Lord. His coming is as sure as the sunrise. He will come to us like the winter rain, as the spring rain that waters the earth.”

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do to thee? O Judah, what shall I do to thee? for your goodness is as the morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.

What can I make of you, Ephraim! What can I make of you, Judah! Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew which early goes away.

5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.

That is why I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth. My judgment is like the light that goes forth,

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

for it is love that I delight in and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God and not burnt offerings.

7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

But they after the manner of men have transgressed the covenant, there they have played me false.

8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.

Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with bloody footprints,

9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.

and as bandits lie in wait for a man, so a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem. How terrible is the evil they do!

10 I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the harlotry of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

In Bethel I have seen a horrible thing. There Ephraim plays the prostitute, Israel is defiled.

11 Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.

Judah for you also a harvest is set. When I would restore the fortunes of my people,