Hosea 6

1 In their tribulation, they will arise early to me. Come, let us return to the Lord.

“Come, let us return to Yahweh. For he has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us; he has injured us, but he will bandage our wounds.

2 For he has seized us, and he will heal us. He will strike, and he will cure us.

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

3 He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, and we will live in his sight. We will understand, and we will continue on, so that we may know the Lord. His landing place has been prepared like the first light of morning, and he will come to us like the early and the late rains of the land.

Let us know Yahweh; let us press on to know Yahweh. His coming out is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the land.”

4 What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am I to do with you, Judah? Your mercy is like the morning mist, and like the dew passing away in the morning.

Ephraim, what will I do with you? Judah, what will I do with you? Your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early.

5 Because of this, I have cut them with the prophets, I have slain them with the words of my mouth; and your opinions will depart like the light.

So I have cut them to pieces by the prophets, I have killed them with the words of my mouth. Your decrees are like the light that shines out.

6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God more than holocausts.

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

7 But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; in this, they have been dishonest with me.

Like Adam they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me.

8 Gilead is a city that manufactures idols; it has been tripped up by family relations.

Gilead is a city of evildoers with footprints of blood.

9 And, like those who rob with skillful words, they, by conspiring with the priests, bring a death sentence to travelers on a pilgrimage from Shechem; for they have been performing evil deeds.

As gangs of robbers wait for someone, so the priests band together to commit murder on the way to Shechem; they have committed shameful crimes.

10 I have seen horrible things in the house of Israel; the fornications of Ephraim are there. Israel has been contaminated.

In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim's prostitution is there, and Israel has become unclean.

11 But you, Judah, set a harvest for yourself, while I reverse the captivity of my people.

For you also, Judah, a harvest has been appointed, when I will restore the fortunes of my people.