Hosea — Chapter 6

1Come, 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.

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

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

4O 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 early dew it goeth away.

5Therefore 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

1Come, and let us return unto Jehovah; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

2After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him.

3And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth.

4O 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 goeth early away.

5Therefore 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.

6For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

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

8Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity; it is stained with blood.

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

10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: there whoredom is [found] in Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

11Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for thee, when I bring back the captivity of my people.

1Come on! Let’s return to the Lord. He himself has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us! He has injured us, but he will bandage our wounds!

2He will restore us in a very short time; he will heal us in a little while, so that we may live in his presence.

3So let us search for him! Let us seek to know the Lord! He will come to our rescue as certainly as the appearance of the dawn, as certainly as the winter rain comes, as certainly as the spring rain that waters the land.

4What am I going to do with you, O Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, O Judah? For your faithfulness is as fleeting as the morning mist; it disappears as quickly as dawn’s dew.

5Therefore, I will certainly cut you into pieces at the hands of the prophets; I will certainly kill you in fulfillment of my oracles of judgment, for my judgment will come forth like the light of the dawn.

6For I delight in faithfulness, not simply in sacrifice; I delight in acknowledging God, not simply in whole burnt offerings.

7At Adam they broke the covenant; Oh how they were unfaithful to me!

8Gilead is a city full of evildoers; its streets are stained with bloody footprints!

9The company of priests is like a gang of robbers, lying in ambush to pounce on a victim. They commit murder on the road to Shechem; they have done heinous crimes!

10I have seen a disgusting thing in the house of Israel: There Ephraim commits prostitution with other gods, and Israel defiles itself.

11I have appointed a time to reap judgment for you also, O Judah! Whenever I want to restore the fortunes of my people,

1“Come, and let us 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.

2After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him.

3Let us acknowledge Yahweh. Let us 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“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.

5Therefore 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.

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

7But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me, there.

8Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity; it is stained with blood.

9As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man, so the company of priests murder on the path toward Shechem, committing shameful crimes.

10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled.

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