Hosea 6

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord.

He has torn us to pieces

but he will heal us;

he has injured us

but he will bind up our wounds.

2 After two days he will revive us;

on the third day he will restore us,

that we may live in his presence.

3 Let us acknowledge the Lord;

let us press on to acknowledge him.

As surely as the sun rises,

he will appear;

he will come to us like the winter rains,

like the spring rains that water the earth.”

4 “What can I do with you, Ephraim?

What can I do with you, Judah?

Your love is like the morning mist,

like the early dew that disappears.

5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,

I killed you with the words of my mouth—

then my judgments go forth like the sun.

6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,

and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

7 As at Adam, they have broken the covenant;

they were unfaithful to me there.

8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,

stained with footprints of blood.

9 As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,

so do bands of priests;

they murder on the road to Shechem,

carrying out their wicked schemes.

10 I have seen a horrible thing in Israel:

There Ephraim is given to prostitution,

Israel is defiled.

11 “Also for you, Judah,

a harvest is appointed.

“Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord;

for he has torn us, that he may heal us;

he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.

2 After two days he will revive us;

on the third day he will raise us up,

that we may live before him.

3 Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;

his going out is sure as the dawn;

he will come to us as the showers,

as the spring rains that water the earth.”

4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?

What shall I do with you, O Judah?

Your love is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that goes early away.

5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;

I have slain them by the words of my mouth,

and my judgment goes forth as the light.

6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

7 But like Adam they transgressed the covenant;

there they dealt faithlessly with me.

8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,

tracked with blood.

9 As robbers lie in wait for a man,

so the priests band together;

they murder on the way to Shechem;

they commit villainy.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;

Ephraim’s whoredom is there; Israel is defiled.

11 For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.

When I restore the fortunes of my people,

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord.

He has torn us to pieces;

now he will heal us.

He has injured us;

now he will bandage our wounds.

2 In just a short time he will restore us,

so that we may live in his presence.

3 Oh, that we might know the Lord!

Let us press on to know him.

He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn

or the coming of rains in early spring.”

4 “O Israel and Judah,

what should I do with you?” asks the Lord.

“For your love vanishes like the morning mist

and disappears like dew in the sunlight.

5 I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces—

to slaughter you with my words,

with judgments as inescapable as light.

6 I want you to show love,

not offer sacrifices.

I want you to know me

more than I want burnt offerings.

7 But like Adam, you broke my covenant

and betrayed my trust.

8 “Gilead is a city of sinners,

tracked with footprints of blood.

9 Priests form bands of robbers,

waiting in ambush for their victims.

They murder travelers along the road to Shechem

and practice every kind of sin.

10 Yes, I have seen something horrible in Ephraim and Israel:

My people are defiled by prostituting themselves with other gods!

11 “O Judah, a harvest of punishment is also waiting for you,

though I wanted to restore the fortunes of my people.

1 Come, and let us return to the Lord;

For He has torn, but He will heal us;

He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

2 After two days He will revive us;

On the third day He will raise us up,

That we may live in His sight.

3 Let us know,

Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.

His going forth is established as the morning;

He will come to us like the rain,

Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

4 “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you?

O Judah, what shall I do to you?

For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud,

And like the early dew it goes away.

5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,

I have slain them by the words of My mouth;

And your judgments are like light that goes forth.

6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,

And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

7 “But like men they transgressed the covenant;

There they dealt treacherously with Me.

8 Gilead is a city of evildoers

And defiled with blood.

9 As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man,

So the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem;

Surely they commit lewdness.

10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel:

There is the harlotry of Ephraim;

Israel is defiled.

11 Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you,

When I return the captives of My people.

1 “Come, let’s go back to the Lord.

He has hurt us, but he will heal us.

He has wounded us, but he will bandage our wounds.

2 In two days he will put new life in us;

on the third day he will raise us up

so that we may live in his presence 3 and know him.

Let’s try to learn about the Lord;

he will come to us as surely as the dawn comes.

He will come to us like rain,

like the spring rain that waters the ground.”

4 The Lord says, “Israel, what should I do with you?

Judah, what should I do with you?

Your faithfulness is like a morning mist,

like the dew that goes away early in the day.

5 I have warned you by my prophets

that I will kill you and destroy you.

My justice comes out like bright light.

6 I want faithful love

more than I want animal sacrifices.

I want people to know me

more than I want burnt offerings.

7 But they have broken the agreement as Adam did;

they have been unfaithful to me.

8 Gilead is a city of people who do evil;

their footprints are bloody.

9 The priests are like robbers waiting to attack people;

they murder people on the road to Shechem

and do wicked things.

10 I have seen horrible things in Israel.

Look at Israel’s prostitution;

Israel has become unclean.

11 “Judah, I have set a harvest time for you

when I will make the lives of my people good again.

1 Come, and let us return unto Jehovah; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. 3 And 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.

4 O 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. 5 Therefore 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. 6 For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings. 7 But they like Adam have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me. 8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity; it is stained with blood. 9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way toward Shechem; yea, they have committed lewdness. 10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: there whoredom is found in Ephraim, Israel is defiled. 11 Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for thee, when I bring back the captivity of my people.

1 Come and let us return unto Jehovah: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before his face; 3 and we shall know, —we shall follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is assured as the morning dawn; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain which watereth the earth.

4 What shall I do unto thee, Ephraim? What shall I do unto thee, Judah? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that early passeth away. 5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and my judgment goeth forth as the light. 6 For I delight in loving-kindness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings. 7 But they like Adam have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me. 8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity; it is tracked with blood. 9 And as troops of robbers lie in wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way of Shechem; yea, they commit lewdness. 10 In the house of Israel have I seen a horrible thing: the whoredom of Ephraim is there; Israel is defiled. 11 Also, for thee, Judah, is a harvest appointed, when I shall turn again the captivity of my people.

1 Let’s return to the Lord. 

Even though he has torn us to pieces, 

he will heal us. 

Even though he has wounded us, 

he will bandage our wounds. 

2 After two days he will revive us. 

On the third day he will raise us 

so that we may live in his presence. 

3 Let’s learn about the Lord. 

Let’s get to know the Lord. 

He will come to us as sure as the morning comes. 

He will come to us like the autumn rains and the spring rains 

that water the ground. 

4 “What should I do with you, Ephraim? 

What should I do with you, Judah? 

Your love is like fog in the morning. 

It disappears as quickly as the morning dew. 

5 That is why I cut ⸤you⸥ down by sending the prophets. 

I killed you with the words from my mouth. 

My judgments shined on you like light. 

6 I want your loyalty, not your sacrifices. 

I want you to know me, not to give me burnt offerings. 

7 “Like Adam, you rejected the promise.

You were unfaithful to me. 

8 Gilead is a city filled with troublemakers. 

It is stained with bloody footprints. 

9 The priests are like gangs of robbers who lie in ambush for a person. 

They murder on the road to Shechem. 

Certainly, they have committed a crime. 

10 “I have seen horrible things in the nation of Israel. 

Ephraim is acting like a prostitute, 

and Israel is unclean.

11 “Yet, Judah, I have set a harvest time for you 

when I bring my people back from captivity. 

1 Come, let us return to the Lord.

For He has torn us,

and He will heal us;

He has wounded us,

and He will bind up our wounds.

2 He will revive us after two days,

and on the third day He will raise us up

so we can live in His presence.

3 Let us strive to know the Lord.

His appearance is as sure as the dawn.

He will come to us like the rain,

like the spring showers that water the land.

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

What am I going to do with you, Judah?

Your loyalty is like the morning mist

and like the early dew that vanishes.

5 This is why I have used the prophets

to cut them down;

I have killed them with the words of My mouth.

My judgment strikes like lightning.

6 For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

7 But they, like Adam, have violated the covenant;

there they have betrayed Me.

8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,

tracked with bloody footprints.

9 Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone,

a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem.

They commit atrocities.

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

Ephraim’s promiscuity is there; Israel is defiled.

11 A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah.

When I return My people from captivity,

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord,

for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;

he has struck down, and he will bind us up.

2 After two days he will revive us;

on the third day he will raise us up,

that we may live before him.

3 Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;

his appearing is as sure as the dawn;

he will come to us like the showers,

like the spring rains that water the earth.”

4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?

What shall I do with you, O Judah?

Your love is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that goes away early.

5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;

I have killed them by the words of my mouth,

and my judgment goes forth as the light.

6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

7 But at Adam they transgressed the covenant;

there they dealt faithlessly with me.

8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,

tracked with blood.

9 As robbers lie in wait for someone,

so the priests are banded together;

they murder on the road to Shechem;

they commit a monstrous crime.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;

Ephraim’s prostitution is there; Israel is defiled.

11 For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.

When I would restore the fortunes of my people,

1 Come, let us return to Yahweh;

because it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;

he has struck us down and will bind us up.

2 He will revive us after two days;

on the third day he will raise us up,

that we may live in his presence.

3 Let us know, let us press on to know Yahweh;

his rising is sure like the dawn.

He will come like the showers to us,

like the spring rain that waters the earth.

4 What will I do with you, O Ephraim?

What will I do with you, O Judah?

Your love is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that goes away early in the morning.

5 Therefore, I have hewn them by the prophets;

I have killed them by the words of my mouth,

and my judgment goes forth like the light.

6 Because I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

7 But like Adam, they transgressed the covenant;

there they dealt faithlessly with me.

8 Gilead is a city of evil,

a cunning city because of blood.

9 Like bandits lying in wait,

so is a band of priests;

they murder on the road to Shechem;

indeed, they commit a monstrous crime.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen something horrible;

Ephraim’s unfaithfulness is there.

Israel is defiled.

11 For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed,

when I restore the fortunes of my people,

1 The people say, “Come.

Let us return to the Lord.

He has torn us to pieces.

But he will heal us.

He has wounded us.

But he’ll bandage our wounds.

2 After two days he will give us new life.

On the third day he’ll make us like new again.

Then we will enjoy his blessing.

3 Let’s recognize him as the Lord.

Let’s keep trying to really know him.

You can be sure the sun will rise.

And you can be just as sure the Lord will appear.

He will come to renew us like the winter rains.

He will be like the spring rains that water the earth.”

4 The Lord says, “Ephraim, what can I do with you?

And what can I do with you, Judah?

Your love for me vanishes like the morning mist.

It soon disappears like the early dew.

5 So I used the words of my prophets to cut you in pieces.

I used my words to put you to death.

When I judged you, I struck you like lightning.

6 I want mercy and not sacrifice.

I want you to recognize me as God

instead of bringing me burnt offerings.

7 Just as Adam disobeyed me,

you have broken the covenant I made with you.

You were not faithful to me in the land I gave you.

8 Ramoth Gilead is a city where sinful people live.

It is stained with footprints of blood.

9 On the road to Shechem, groups of priests act like robbers.

They hide and wait to attack people.

They murder them

and commit other shameful crimes.

10 People of Israel, I have seen

a horrible thing in your land.

People of Ephraim, you have joined yourselves to other gods.

You have made yourselves ‘unclean.’

11 “People of Judah, I have appointed a time

for you to be destroyed.

“My people, I would like to bless you

with great success again.”

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord.

For He has torn us, but He will heal us;

He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.

2 “He will revive us after two days;

He will raise us up on the third day,

That we may live before Him.

3 “So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.

His going forth is as certain as the dawn;

And He will come to us like the rain,

Like the spring rain watering the earth.”

4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?

What shall I do with you, O Judah?

For your loyalty is like a morning cloud

And like the dew which goes away early.

5 Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets;

I have slain them by the words of My mouth;

And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth.

6 For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice,

And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

7 But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant;

There they have dealt treacherously against Me.

8 Gilead is a city of wrongdoers,

Tracked with bloody footprints.

9 And as raiders wait for a man,

So a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem;

Surely they have committed crime.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;

Ephraim’s harlotry is there, Israel has defiled itself.

11 Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you,

When I restore the fortunes of My people.