Hosea

Hosea 6 ©

1 An exhortation to repentance. 4 A complaint against Israel and Judah for persisting still in their wickedness.

1

COME, and alet us return unto the LORD: for he bhath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

2

cAfter two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

3

Then dshall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: ehis going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us fas the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

4

¶O Ephraim, gwhat shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your 1goodness is has a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.

5

Therefore ihave I *hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: 2and thy judgments are jas the light that goeth forth.

6

kFor I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

7

But they 3like men lhave transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

8

mGilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is 4polluted with blood.

9

nAnd as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way 5by consent: for they commit 6lewdness.

10

I have seen oan horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is pthe whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

11

Also, O Judah, he hath set qan harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.