Add parallel Print Page Options

A Call to Repentance

Come, let us return to the Lord,
for He has torn,
    and He will heal us.
He has struck,
    and He will bind us up.
After two days He will revive us.
    On the third day He will raise us up,
    that we may live before Him.
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.
    His appearance is as sure as the dawn.
He will come to us like the rain;
    like the spring rains He will water the earth.

Impenitence of Israel and Judah

What shall I do to you, O Ephraim?
    What shall I do to you, O Judah?
Your faithfulness is like a morning cloud,
    and like the early dew it goes away.
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets.
    I have killed them by the words of My mouth,
    and My[a] judgments go forth like light.
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice,
    and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
But like men[b] they have transgressed the covenant.
    There they dealt faithlessly with Me.
Gilead is a city of evildoers,
    polluted with blood.
As robbers lie in wait for someone,
    so a company of priests
murder on the way to Shechem.
    They commit a shameful deed.
10 I have seen a horrible thing
    in the house of Israel.
The harlotry of Ephraim is there;
    Israel is defiled.

11 Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you,
    when I restore the fortunes of My people.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 6:5 Gk. Syr.: Heb. Your.
  2. Hosea 6:7 Or like/at Adam.

A Call to Yahweh

Come, let us return to Yahweh;
because it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;
he has struck us down and will bind us up.
    He will revive us after two days;
on the third day he will raise us up,
    that we may live in his presence.[a]
Let us know, let us press on to know Yahweh;
    his rising is sure like the dawn.
He will come like the showers to us,
    like the spring rain that waters the earth.
What will I do with you, O Ephraim?
    What will I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
    like the dew that goes away early in the morning.
Therefore, I have hewn them by the prophets;
    I have killed them by the words of my mouth,
    and my judgment[b] goes forth like the light.
Because I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
    and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
But like Adam, they transgressed the covenant;
    there they dealt faithlessly with me.
Gilead is a city of evil,
    a cunning city because of blood.[c]
Like bandits lying in wait,
    so is a band of priests;
they murder on the road to Shechem;
    indeed, they commit a monstrous crime.
10 In the house of Israel I have seen something horrible;
    Ephraim’s unfaithfulness is there.
        Israel is defiled.

Ephraim’s Guilt

11 For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed,
    when I restore the fortunes of my people,

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 6:2 Or “before his face”
  2. Hosea 6:5 Hebrew “your judgments”
  3. Hosea 6:8 The Hebrew is difficult; NRSV translates “tracked with blood”