Hosea 6 | New International Version

Israel unrepentant

1 ‘Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.

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

3 Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.’

4 ‘What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.

5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth – then my judgments go forth like the sun.*

6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

7 As at Adam,* they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.

8 Gilead is a city of evildoers, stained with footprints of blood.

9 As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, carrying out their wicked schemes.

10 I have seen a horrible thing in Israel: there Ephraim is given to prostitution, Israel is defiled.

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

Holy Bible, New International Version ® (Anglicised), NIV TM Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. The “New International Version” is a trademark registered in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. The “NIV”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.

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.

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

3 Let 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.”

4 What 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.

5 Therefore 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®) copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV^® Text Edition: 2016. The ESV^® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. The ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.