Ô-sê 6

Come, let us return

¹“Come, let us return to the LORD. \q It is he who has torn us, and he will heal us; \q he has struck us down, and he will bandage our wounds.^{a 2}After two days he will bring us back to life; \q on the third day he will raise us up, \q so that we may live in his presence.^{b 3}Let us know the LORD; let us press on to know him. \q His coming is as certain as the sunrise; \q he will come to us like the showers, \q like the spring rain that waters the land.”^{c 4}What am I to do with you, Ephraim? \q What am I to do with you, Judah? \q Your loyal love is like the morning mist, \q like the dew that vanishes early in the day. ⁵That is why I have cut them down by the prophets; \q I have killed them with the words of my mouth, \q and the judgment on you goes out like the light.^{d 6}For I want loyal love, not sacrifice, \q and knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.^{e 7}But like Adam they have broken the covenant; \q there they have betrayed me.^{f 8}Gilead is a city of evildoers, \q marked with bloody footprints.^{g 9}Like bandits lying in wait for a victim, so is a gang of priests; \q they murder on the road to Shechem; \q what they have done is a vile crime.^{h 10}In the house of Israel I have seen something horrible: \q Ephraim’s prostitution is there, and Israel has become unclean. ¹¹Judah, a harvest is set for you too. \q Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,^ij