Hosea 6

Israel Unrepentant

“Come, let us return^a to the Lord.

He has torn us to pieces^b

but he will heal us;^c

he has injured us

but he will bind up our wounds.^d

After two days he will revive us;^e

on the third day^f he will restore^g us,

that we may live in his presence.

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,^h

like the spring rains that water the earth.ⁱ”

“What can I do with you, Ephraim?^j

What can I do with you, Judah?

Your love is like the morning mist,

like the early dew that disappears.^k

Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,

I killed you with the words of my mouth^l—

then my judgments go forth like the sun.^m

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,ⁿ

and acknowledgment^o of God rather than burnt offerings.^p

As at Adam, they have broken the covenant;^q

they were unfaithful^r to me there.

Gilead is a city of wicked people,^s

stained with footprints of blood.

As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,^t

so do bands of priests;

they murder^u on the road to Shechem,

carrying out their wicked schemes.^v

I have seen a horrible^w thing

in the house of Israel.

There Ephraim is given to prostitution

and Israel is defiled.^x

“Also for you, Judah,

a harvest^y is appointed.

“Whenever I would restore the fortunes^z of my people,