Hosea 6

A CALL TO REPENTANCE

6Come, let’s return to the Lord.^an

For he has torn us,^ao

and he will heal us;^ap

he has wounded us,

and he will bind up our wounds.^aq

²He will revive us after two days,^ar

and on the third day he will raise us up

so we can live in his presence.^as

³Let’s strive to know the Lord.^at

His appearance is as sure as the dawn.^au

He will come to us like the rain,^av

like the spring showers that water the land.

THE LORD’S FIRST LAMENT

⁴What am I going to do with you, Ephraim?^aw

What am I going to do with you, Judah?

Your love is like the morning mist^ax

and like the early dew that vanishes.

⁵This is why I have used the prophets

to cut them down;^Cay

I have killed them with the words from my mouth.

My judgment strikes like lightning.^D

⁶For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God^az rather than burnt offerings.^ba

⁷But they, like Adam,^E have violated the covenant;^a

there they have betrayed me.^b

⁸Gilead is a city of evildoers,^c

tracked with bloody footprints.^d

⁹Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone,^e

a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem.^f

They commit atrocities.^g

¹⁰I have seen something horrible^h in the house of Israel:

Ephraim’s promiscuity is there;ⁱ Israel is defiled.

¹¹A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah.^j

When I return my people from captivity,^k