Hosea 6
1“Come, let’s return to the LORD;”
“for it is he who has injured us and will heal us;”
“he has struck us down, but he will bind us up.”
2“After two days he will revive us;” “on the third day he will raise us up,” “so that we may live before him.”
3“Let’s know, let’s press on to know the LORD;” “whose appearing is as certain as the dawn;” “who will come to us like the showers,” “like the spring rains that give drink to the earth.”
5Therefore, I have attacked them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth like a light.
6I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.
7But like Adam they broke the covenant; then they acted in bad faith against me.
8Gilead is a city of wicked people, tracked with blood.
9As robbers lie in wait for someone, so the priests are in league with each other; they murder on the road to Shechem; they have done evil things.
10In the house of Israel I have seen something horrible; Ephraim acts like a prostitute; Israel is defiled.
11For you also, Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I would improve the circumstances of my people.
2“After two days he will revive us;” “on the third day he will raise us up,” “so that we may live before him.”
3“Let’s know, let’s press on to know the LORD;” “whose appearing is as certain as the dawn;” “who will come to us like the showers,” “like the spring rains that give drink to the earth.”
Infidelity and divine retribution
4Ephraim, what will I do with you? Judah, what will I do with you? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that vanishes quickly.5Therefore, I have attacked them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth like a light.
6I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.
7But like Adam they broke the covenant; then they acted in bad faith against me.
8Gilead is a city of wicked people, tracked with blood.
9As robbers lie in wait for someone, so the priests are in league with each other; they murder on the road to Shechem; they have done evil things.
10In the house of Israel I have seen something horrible; Ephraim acts like a prostitute; Israel is defiled.
11For you also, Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I would improve the circumstances of my people.