Hosea 6:1–7:16
Israel Refuses to Turn Away From Their Sins
6 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.
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.”
“I would like to heal Israel.
But when I try to, Ephraim’s sins
are brought out into the open.
The crimes of Samaria
are made known to everyone.
The people tell lies.
They break into houses and steal.
They rob others in the streets.
that I remember all of the evil things they do.
Their sins pile up and cover them.
I am always aware of those sins.
3 “Their evil conduct even makes the king glad.
Their lies make the princes happy.
4 But all of the people are unfaithful to the king.
Their anger against him burns
like the coals in an oven.
The baker does not even need to stir up the fire
until the dough is ready.”
5 On special days to honor our king,
the princes get drunk with wine.
And the king enjoys the party.
He joins hands with those
who pretend to be faithful to him.
6 Their hearts are as hot as an oven.
They make evil plans to get rid of him.
Their anger burns like a slow fire all night.
In the morning it blazes out like a flaming fire.
7 All of them are as hot as an oven.
They destroy their rulers.
All of their kings fall from power.
But none of them calls on the Lord for help.
8 The people of Ephraim mix with the nations.
They are like a flat cake
that is baked on only one side.
9 People from other lands make them weaker and weaker.
But they don’t realize it.
Their hair is becoming gray.
But they don’t even notice it.
10 The pride of Israel witnesses that they are guilty.
But in spite of everything,
they don’t return to the Lord their God.
They don’t go to him for help.
“The people of Ephraim are like a dove.
They are easily tricked.
They do not have any sense at all.
First they call out to Egypt for help.
Then they turn to Assyria.
I will throw my net over them.
I will capture them like birds of the air.
I will punish them,
just as I warned them I would.
13 How terrible it will be for them!
They have wandered away from me.
So they will be destroyed.
They have refused to obey me.
I long to save them.
But they tell lies about me.
14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts.
Instead, they just lie on their beds and sob.
They cut themselves when they pray to Baal
for grain and fresh wine.
So they turn away from me.
15 I brought them up and made them strong.
But they make evil plans against me.
16 I am the Most High God. But they do not turn to me.
They are like a bow that does not shoot straight.
Their leaders will be killed with swords.
They will die because they have spoken too proudly.
The people of Egypt
will make fun of them.”