Hosea 6

1. Come, let us return to Adonai; 1 for he has torn, and he will heal us; 1 he has struck, and he will bind our wounds.

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

3. Let us know, let us strive to know Adonai. 3 That he will come is as certain as morning; 3 he will come to us like the rain, 3 like the spring rains that water the earth.

4. “Efrayim, what should I do to you? 4 Y’hudah, what should I do to you? 4 For your ‘faithful love’ is like a morning cloud, 4 like dew that disappears quickly.

5. This is why I have cut them to pieces by the prophets, 5 slaughtered them with the words from my mouth — 5 the judgment on you shines out like light.

6. For what I desire is mercy, not sacrifices, 6 knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

7. “But they, just like men, have broken the covenant, 7 they have been faithless in dealing with me.

8. Gil‘ad is a city of criminals, 8 covered with bloody footprints;

9. just as bands of robbers wait to ambush someone, 9 so does a gang of cohanim. 9 They commit murder on the road to Sh’khem! 9 Their conduct is an outrage!

10. In the house of Isra’el 10 I have seen a horrible thing; 10 whoring is found there in Efrayim, 10 Isra’el is defiled.

11. For you, too, Y’hudah, 11 a harvest will come! 11 “When I restore the fortunes of my people,