Hosea

The Unrepentance of Israel and Judah

1Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces,but He will heal us;He has wounded us,but He will bind up our wounds.

2After two days He will revive us;on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.

3So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD.As surely as the sun rises,He will appear;He will come to us like the rain,like the spring showers that water the earth.

4What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?What shall I do with you, O Judah?For your loyalty is like a morning mist,like the early dew that vanishes.

5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning.

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

7But they, like Adam, have transgressedthe covenant;there they were unfaithful to Me.

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

9Like raiders who lie in ambush,so does a band of priests;they murder on the way to Shechem;surely they have committed atrocities.

10In the house of IsraelI have seen a horrible thing:Ephraim practices prostitution there,and Israel is defiled.

11Also for you, O Judah,a harvest is appointed,when I restoreMy people from captivity.

1“Come! Let’s return to the LORD;for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us;he has injured us,and he will bind up our wounds.

2After two days he will revive us.On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him.

3Let’s acknowledge the LORD.Let’s press on to know the LORD.As surely as the sun rises,the LORD will appear.He will come to us like the rain,like the spring rain that waters the earth.”

4“Ephraim, what shall I do to you?Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early.

5Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets;I killed them with the words of my mouth. Your judgments are like a flash of lightning.

6For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice;and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

7But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant.They were unfaithful to me there.

8Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity;it is stained with blood.

9As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man,so the company of priests murder on the path toward Shechem, committing shameful crimes.

10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing.There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled.

11“Also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you,when I restore the fortunes of my people.