Hosea 6

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

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

7But like Adam they transgressed the covenant;
   there they dealt faithlessly with me. 8Gilead is a city of evildoers,
   tracked with blood. 9As robbers lie in wait for a man,
   so the priests band together;
they murder on the way to Shechem;
   they commit villainy. 10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;
   Ephraim's whoredom is there; Israel is defiled.

11For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.

When I restore the fortunes of my people,