Hosea 6

A Call to Repentance

1Come, let’s return to the Lord.#Jr 50:4–5

For he has torn us,#Hs 5:14

and he will heal us;#Hs 14:4

he has wounded us,

and he will bind up our wounds.#Is 30:26

2He will revive us after two days,#Ps 30:5

and on the third day he will raise us up

so we can live in his presence.#Dt 32:39

3Let’s strive to know the Lord.#Is 2:3; Mc 4:2

His appearance is as sure as the dawn.#Ps 19:6; Mc 5:2

He will come to us like the rain,#Jl 2:23

like the spring showers that water the land.

The Lord’s First Lament

4What am I going to do with you, Ephraim?#Hs 7:1; 11:8

What am I going to do with you, Judah?

Your love is like the morning mist#Ps 78:34–37

and like the early dew that vanishes.

5This is why I have used the prophets

to cut them down;#6:5 Or have cut down the prophets#1Sm 15:32–33; Jr 1:10,18; 5:14

I have killed them with the words from my mouth.

My judgment strikes like lightning.#6:5 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads Your judgments go out as light

6For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God#Hs 4:1 rather than burnt offerings.#Mt 9:13; 12:7

7But they, like Adam,#6:7 Or they, as at Adam, or they, like men, have violated the covenant;#Hs 8:1

there they have betrayed me.#Hs 5:7

8Gilead is a city of evildoers,#Hs 12:11

tracked with bloody footprints.#Hs 4:2

9Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone,#Hs 7:1

a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem.#Jr 7:9–10; Hs 4:2

They commit atrocities.#Ezk 22:9; 23:27; Hs 2:10

10I have seen something horrible#Jr 5:30–31; 23:14 in the house of Israel:

Ephraim’s promiscuity is there;#Hs 5:3 Israel is defiled.

11A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah.#Jr 51:33; Jl 3:13

When I restore the fortunes of my people,#Zph 2:7