| 1 | Come and let us return to the Lord, for He has torn so that He may heal us; He has stricken so that He may bind us up. |
| 2 | After two days He will revive us (quicken us, give us life); on the third day He will raise us up that we may live before Him. |
| 3 | Yes, let us know (recognize, be acquainted with, and understand) Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord [to appreciate, give heed to, and cherish Him]. His going forth is prepared
and
certain as the dawn, and He will come to us as the [heavy] rain, as the latter rain that waters the earth. |
| 4 | O Ephraim, what shall I do with you? [says the Lord] O Judah, what shall I do with you? For your [wavering] love
and
kindness are like the night mist
or
like the dew that goes early away. |
| 5 | Therefore have I hewn down
and
smitten them by means of the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; My judgments [pronounced upon them by you prophets] are like the light that goes forth. |
| 6 | For I desire
and
delight in dutiful steadfast love
and
goodness, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of
and
acquaintance with God more than burnt offerings. |
| 7 | But they, like [less-privileged] men
and
like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there have they dealt faithlessly
and
treacherously with Me. |
| 8 | Gilead is a city of evildoers; it is tracked with bloody [footprints]. |
| 9 | And as troops of robbers lie in wait for a man, so the company of priests murder on the road toward Shechem; yes, they commit villainy
and
outrages. |
| 10 | I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel! There harlotry
and
idolatry are found in Ephraim; Israel is defiled. |
| 11 | Also, O Judah, there is a harvest [of divine judgment] appointed for you; when I would return My people from their captivity [in which they are slaves to the misery brought on by their own sins], |
Cross references:
-
Hosea 6:2 : Isa. 26:19; Ezek. 37:1-10.
-
Hosea 6:6 : Matt. 9:13; 12:7.
|