Hosea 6:1-7:1

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.

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

3Let 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.

5Therefore 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. The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.

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

7As at Adam, Or Like Adam; or Like human beings they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.

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

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

10I 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,

1whenever I would heal Israel, the sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed. They practice deceit, thieves break into houses, bandits rob in the streets;