Hosea 6

Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant

1. “Come, let us return to the Lord; 1 for he has torn us, that he may heal us; 1 he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.

2. After two days he will revive us; 2 on the third day he will raise us up, 2 that we may live before him.

3. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; 3 his going out is sure as the dawn; 3 he will come to us as the showers, 3 as the spring rains that water the earth.”

4. What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? 4 What shall I do with you, O Judah? 4 Your love is like a morning cloud, 4 like the dew that goes early away.

5. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; 5 I have slain them by the words of my mouth, 5 and my judgment goes forth as the light.

6. For I desire steadfast love[a] and not sacrifice, 6 the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

7. But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; 7 there they dealt faithlessly with me.

8. Gilead is a city of evildoers, 8 tracked with blood.

9. As robbers lie in wait for a man, 9 so the priests band together; 9 they murder on the way to Shechem; 9 they commit villainy.

10. In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; 10 Ephraim's whoredom is there; Israel is defiled.

11. For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, 11 when I restore the fortunes of my people.

Footnotes:
a. Hosea 6:6: Septuagint mercy