1 Affliction causeth a man to turn to God. 9 The wickedness of the Priests.

Come, and let [a]us return to the Lord: for he hath spoiled, and he will heal us: he hath wounded us, and he will bind us up.

After two days will [b]he revive us, and in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Then shall we have knowledge, and endeavor ourselves to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning, and he shall come unto us as the rain, and as the latter rain unto the earth.

O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, how shall I entreat thee? for [c]your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the morning dew it goeth away.

Therefore have I [d]cut down by the Prophets: I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and thy [e]judgments were as the light that goeth forth.

For I desired [f]mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

But they [g]like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they trespassed against me.

[h]Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.

And as the thieves wait for a man, so the company of Priests murder in the way by consent: for they work mischief.

10 I have seen villainy in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim: Israel is defiled.

11 Yea, Judah hath set a [i]plant for thee, while I would return the captivity of my people.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 6:1 He showeth the people how they ought to turn to the Lord, that he might call back his plagues.
  2. Hosea 6:2 Though he correct us from time to time, yet his help will not be far off, if we return to him.
  3. Hosea 6:4 You seem to have a certain holiness and repentance, but it is upon the sudden, and as a morning cloud.
  4. Hosea 6:5 I have still labored by my prophets, and as it were framed you to bring you to amendment, but all was in vain: for my word was not food to feed them, but a sword to slay them.
  5. Hosea 6:5 My doctrine which I taught thee, was most evident.
  6. Hosea 6:6 He showeth to what scope his doctrine tended, that they should join the obedience of God, and the love of their neighbor with outward sacrifices.
  7. Hosea 6:7 That is, like light and weak persons.
  8. Hosea 6:8 Which was the place where the Priests dwelt, and which should have been best instructed in my word.
  9. Hosea 6:11 That is, doth imitate thine idolatry, and hath taken grafts of thy trees.

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