Hosea 6

A Call to Repentance

¹Come, let’s return to the Lord. ^a

For he has torn us, ^b

and he will heal us; ^c

he has wounded us,

and he will bind up our wounds. ^d

²He will revive us after two days, ^e

and on the third day he will raise us up

so we can live in his presence. ^f

³Let’s strive to know the Lord. ^g

His appearance is as sure as the dawn. ^h

He will come to us like the rain, ⁱ

like the spring showers that water the land.

The Lord’s First Lament

⁴What am I going to do with you, Ephraim? ^j

What am I going to do with you, Judah?

Your love is like the morning mist ^k

and like the early dew that vanishes.

⁵This is why I have used the prophets

to cut them down; ^l,^m

I have killed them with the words from my mouth.

My judgment strikes like lightning. ⁿ

⁶For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God ^o rather than burnt offerings. ^p

⁷But they, like Adam, ^q have violated the covenant; ^r

there they have betrayed me. ^s

⁸Gilead is a city of evildoers, ^t

tracked with bloody footprints. ^u

⁹Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone, ^v

a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem. ^w

They commit atrocities. ^x

¹⁰I have seen something horrible ^y in the house of Israel:

Ephraim’s promiscuity is there; ^z Israel is defiled.

¹¹A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah. ^aa

When I restore the fortunes of my people, ^ab