Hosea, Chapter 6

1. Come, and let us return to the LORD: for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has stricken, and he will bind us up.    2. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.    3. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth.    4. O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? for your goodness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away.    5. Therefore have I cut them down by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and your judgments are as the light that goes forth.    6. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.    7. But they like other men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.    8. Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.    9. And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.    10. I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.    11. Also, O Judah, he has appointed a harvest for you, when I returned the captivity of my people.