Impenitence of Israel and Judah

“O Ephraim, what shall I do to you?
O Judah, what shall I do to you?
For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud,
And like the early dew it goes away.
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have slain them by (A)the words of My mouth;
And [a]your judgments are like light that goes forth.
For I desire (B)mercy[b] and (C)not sacrifice,
And the (D)knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

“But like [c]men they transgressed the covenant;
There they dealt treacherously with Me.
(E)Gilead is a city of evildoers
And [d]defiled with blood.
As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man,
So the company of (F)priests (G)murder on the way to Shechem;
Surely they commit (H)lewdness.
10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel:
There is the [e]harlotry of Ephraim;
Israel is defiled.
11 Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you,
When I return the captives of My people.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 6:5 Or the judgments on you
  2. Hosea 6:6 Or faithfulness or loyalty
  3. Hosea 6:7 Or Adam
  4. Hosea 6:8 Lit. foot-tracked
  5. Hosea 6:10 Spiritual adultery

“What can I do with you, Ephraim?(A)
    What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
    like the early dew that disappears.(B)
Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
    I killed you with the words of my mouth(C)
    then my judgments go forth like the sun.[a](D)
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,(E)
    and acknowledgment(F) of God rather than burnt offerings.(G)
As at Adam,[b] they have broken the covenant;(H)
    they were unfaithful(I) to me there.
Gilead is a city of evildoers,(J)
    stained with footprints of blood.
As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,(K)
    so do bands of priests;
they murder(L) on the road to Shechem,
    carrying out their wicked schemes.(M)
10 I have seen a horrible(N) thing in Israel:
    There Ephraim is given to prostitution,
    Israel is defiled.(O)

11 “Also for you, Judah,
    a harvest(P) is appointed.

“Whenever I would restore the fortunes(Q) of my people,

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 6:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
  2. Hosea 6:7 Or Like Adam; or Like human beings