Hosea 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.footnote a

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.footnote b

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.footnote c

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

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

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.

The Unrepentance of Israel and Judah

1Come, let us return to the LORD.For He has torn us to pieces,but He will heal us;He has wounded us,but He will bind up our wounds. 2After two days He will revive us;on the third day He will raise us up,that we may live in His presence. 3So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD.As surely as the sun rises,He will appear;He will come to us like the rain,like the spring showers that water the earth.

4What shall I do with you, O Ephraimfootnote a?What shall I do with you, O Judah?For your loyalty is like a morning mist,like the early dew that vanishes. 5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;I have slain them by the words of My mouth,and My judgments go forth like lightning. 6For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,footnote band the knowledge of Godrather than burnt offerings.

7But they, like Adam, have transgressedfootnote cthe covenant;there they were unfaithful to Me. 8Gilead is a city of evildoers,tracked with footprints of blood. 9Like raiders who lie in ambush,so does a band of priests;they murder on the way to Shechem;surely they have committed atrocities. 10In the house of IsraelI have seen a horrible thing:Ephraim practices prostitution there,and Israel is defiled.

11Also for you, O Judah,a harvest is appointed,when I restoreMy people from captivity.footnote d