Hosea 6

1 'Auf, auf! Zurück zum Herrn! Zerrissen hat er uns; er wird uns heilen. Geschlagen hat er uns; er wird uns auch verbinden.

[The Israeli people say, ] “Come, let’s return to Yahweh! He has caused [us] to be injured, but he will heal us. He has caused [us] to be wounded, but [it is as though] he will put bandages on our wounds [MET].

2 Schon nach zwei Tagen wird er uns beleben. Am dritten Tag läßt er uns auferstehen, auf daß wir vor ihm leben.

After a very short time he will revive us; in less than three days he will restore us in order that we may live in his presence.

3 So laßt uns klüger werden, laßt uns trachten, den Herren zu erkennen! Gewiß gleicht dann der Morgenröte sein Erscheinen; er kommt zu uns wie milder Regen, wie später Regen, der das Land befruchtet.'"

We must try to know Yahweh; [if we do that, ] he will come [and help] us, as surely as the sun rises [every morning], as surely as rain falls every winter/cold season, and as surely as the rain falls again (in the springtime/at the end of the cold season).”

4 "Was soll ich, Ephraim, mit dir jetzt tun? Was soll ich, Juda, nun mit dir beginnen? Ist eure Frömmigkeit doch wie Gewölk am Morgen, nur wie der Tau der Morgenfrühe, der hinschwindet.

[But Yahweh knows they are insincere; ] [so he says to them, ] “You [people of] Israel, and you [people of] Judah, [I do not know] [RHQ] what I should do to you. Your being faithful [to me will disappear as quickly] as [SIM] the morning mist [disappears], like [SIM] the dew [on the ground] that disappears quickly [when the sun shines].

5 Ich schlage deshalb drein auf die Propheten und spreche über sie das Todesurteil aus durch meines Mundes Worte; so hell wie Licht geht meine Forderung nun aus,

I warned [HYP] you by [the messages that I gave to] the prophets, [but you did not pay attention to my messages]. Therefore I will completely destroy you; the punishment that I give you will strike you like lightning.

6 daß ich die Güte lieber habe als die Opfer, Erkenntnis Gottes lieber als den Opferbrand.

I want [my people] to faithfully love [me] more than [I want them to offer] sacrifices [to me]; [I want them] to know me more than [I want them to] completely burn sacrifices [on the altar].

7 Zu Adam überschreiten sie den Bund; dort handeln treulos sie an mir.

But they have refused to obey my agreement, [just] like Adam did; they have not been faithful to me.

8 Auch Gilead ist eine Übeltäterstadt, voll blutiger Spuren.

Gilead is a city [full] of people who do wicked things; [in the streets] are the bloody footprints [of those who have murdered others].

9 Den Menschenfängern, Räuberbanden gleich ist ihre Priesterschaft; zu Sichem morden sie die Pilger; denn Schändliches verüben sie.

The priests are like [SIM] bandits who wait (in ambushes/along the road) to attack people; they murder [people who are walking] on the road to Shechem, and they commit other disgraceful crimes.

10 Zu Betel sah ich Gräßliches. Daselbst hat Ephraim gebuhlt und Israel sich tief befleckt.

I have seen horrible things [being done] in Israel [MTY]. The people have abandoned me [like prostitutes who have abandoned their husbands] [MET]; [so the people of] Israel have become unacceptable to me.

11 Dir, Juda, dir steht eine Dürre noch bevor. Sooft ich meines Volkes Schicksal wenden wollte,

And you [people of] Judah, I have appointed a time when I will punish [MET] you, too. Whenever I wanted to enable my people to prosper again,”