Hosea 6

¹ "Come, let us return to the LORD.
He has torn us, but he will heal us;
he has wounded us, but he will bandage us.

² After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
so that we may live in his presence.

³ Let us know — let us press on to know the LORD.
His appearing is as certain as the dawn;
he will come to us like the rain,
like the spring rain that waters the earth.

⁴ What can I do with you, Ephraim?
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your loyalty is like a morning cloud,
like dew that vanishes early.

⁵ Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
I have slain them by the words of my mouth,
and my judgments go forth like light.

⁶ For I desire faithful love, not sacrifice,
and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

⁷ But like Adam they broke the covenant;
there they dealt treacherously with me.

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

⁹ Like bandits lying in ambush,
so a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem;
indeed, they commit shameful acts.

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

¹¹ Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed,
when I restore the fortunes of my people.