1The people say, ‘Come. Let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces. But he will heal us. He has wounded us. But he’ll bandage our wounds.2After two days he will give us new life. On the third day he’ll make us like new again. Then we will enjoy his blessing.3Let’s recognise him as the LORD. Let’s keep trying to know him. You can be sure the sun will rise. And you can be just as sure the LORD will appear. He will come to renew us like the winter rains. He will be like the spring rains that water the earth.’4The LORD says, ‘Ephraim, what can I do with you? And what can I do with you, Judah? Your love for me vanishes like the morning mist. It soon disappears like the early dew.5So I used the words of my prophets to cut you in pieces. I used my words to put you to death. Then my judgments blazed out like the sun.6I want mercy and not sacrifice. I want you to recognise me as God instead of bringing me burnt offerings.7Just as at the city of Adam, they disobeyed me, they have broken the covenant I made with them. They were not faithful to me there.8Ramoth Gilead is a city where sinful people live. It is stained with footprints of blood.9On the road to Shechem, groups of priests act like robbers. They hide and wait to attack people. They murder them. So they carry out their evil plans.10I have seen a horrible thing in Israel. The people of Ephraim are unfaithful to their own God. The people of Israel are “unclean”.11‘People of Judah, I have also appointed a time for you to be destroyed. ‘I would like to bless my people with great success again.
Hosea 6
English Standard Version
Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant
1“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. (Isa 30:26; Ho 3:5; Ho 5:14; Ho 13:7; Ho 14:1)2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. (Ps 71:20; Lu 24:27; Lu 24:44; Joh 2:22; Joh 20:9; 1Co 15:4)3Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” (Ho 4:6; Ho 14:5; Joe 2:23; Mic 5:2)4What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. (Ho 4:15; Ho 5:5; Ho 5:9; Ho 6:10; Ho 8:14; Ho 10:11; Ho 11:8; Ho 11:12; Ho 12:1; Ho 13:3)5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. (Jer 23:29; Heb 4:12)6For I desire steadfast love[1] and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. (1Sa 15:22; Ho 2:20; Mt 9:13; Mt 12:7)7But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me. (Ge 3:11; De 17:2; Job 31:33; Ho 5:7; Ho 8:1; Ro 5:14)8Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood. (Ho 4:2; Ho 12:11)9As robbers lie in wait for a man, so the priests band together; they murder on the way to Shechem; they commit villainy. (Jos 24:1; Ho 5:1; Ho 7:6)10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim’s whoredom is there; Israel is defiled. (Ho 4:2; Ho 4:12; Ho 4:14; Ho 5:3; Ho 6:4; Ho 7:4; Ho 9:10)11For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed. When I restore the fortunes of my people, (Job 42:10; Ps 126:1; Ho 6:10; Joe 3:13)