Hos 6 | HCSB | STEP | Come , let us return to the Lord . For He has torn us, and He will heal us; He has wounded us, and He will bind up our wounds.

Hosea 6

A Call to Repentance

1 Come, let us 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
2 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
3 Let us 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

4 What am I going to do with you, Ephraim? ^j
What am I going to do with you, Judah?
Your loyalty is like the morning mist ^k
and like the early dew that vanishes.
5 This is why I have used the prophets
to cut them down; ^{▼▼Or have cut down the prophets
,} ^m
I have killed them with the words of My mouth.
My judgment strikes like lightning. ^{▼▼LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads Your judgments go out as light}
6 For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God ^o rather than ^{▼▼burnt offering(s): Or holocaust, an offering completely burned to ashes; it was used in connection with worship, seeking God's favor, expiating sin, or averting judgment.}burnt offerings. ^q

7 But they, like Adam ^{▼▼Or they, as at Adam, or they, like men,} have violated the covenant; ^s
there they have betrayed Me. ^t
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers ^u
tracked with bloody footprints. ^v
9 Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone ^w
a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem. ^x
They commit atrocities. ^y
10 I have seen something horrible ^z in the house of Israel:
Ephraim’s promiscuity is there; ^aa Israel is defiled.
11 A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah. ^ab

When I ^{▼▼Or you. Judah, when I} return My people from captivity ^ad