A Call to Repentance

Come, 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)
He 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)
Let’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

What 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.
This is why I have used the prophets
to cut them down;[a](L)
I have killed them with the words from my mouth.
My judgment strikes like lightning.[b]
For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God(M) rather than burnt offerings.(N)

But they, like Adam,[c] have violated the covenant;(O)
there they have betrayed me.(P)

Gilead is a city of evildoers,(Q)
tracked with bloody footprints.(R)
Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone,(S)
a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem.(T)
They commit atrocities.(U)
10 I have seen something horrible(V) in the house of Israel:
Ephraim’s promiscuity is there;(W) Israel is defiled.

11 A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah.(X)
When I restore the fortunes of my people,(Y)

Footnotes

  1. 6:5 Or have cut down the prophets
  2. 6:5 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads Your judgments go out as light
  3. 6:7 Or they, as at Adam, or they, like men,

“Come, let’s return to the Lord;
        for it is he who has injured us and will heal us;
        he has struck us down, but he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
        on the third day he will raise us up,
            so that we may live before him.
Let’s know, let’s press on to know the Lord;
        whose appearing is as certain as the dawn;
        who will come to us like the showers,
        like the spring rains that give drink to the earth.”

Infidelity and divine retribution

    Ephraim, what will I do with you?
            Judah, what will I do with you?
    Your love is like a morning cloud,
            like the dew that vanishes quickly.
    Therefore, I have attacked them by the prophets,
            I have killed them by the words of my mouth,
                and my judgment goes forth like a light.
    I desire faithful love and not sacrifice,
            the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.
    But like Adam[a] they broke the covenant;
            then they acted in bad faith against me.
    Gilead is a city of wicked people,
            tracked with blood.
    As robbers lie in wait for someone,
            so the priests are in league with each other;
                they murder on the road to Shechem;
            they have done evil things.
10     In the house of Israel I have seen something horrible;
            Ephraim acts like a prostitute; Israel is defiled.
11     For you also, Judah, a harvest is appointed,
            when I would improve the circumstances of my people.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 6:7 Or at Adam