Hosea 6
The people of Israel are called to return to the Lord, who will heal and revive them after a period of punishment. However, their love for God is fleeting and insincere, and they have transgressed the covenant. God desires steadfast love and knowledge of Him, rather than mere sacrifices and offerings. The people of Israel, including the priests, are guilty of evil and faithlessness, and judgment will come to both Israel and Judah.
1"Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.3Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."4What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away.5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light.6For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.7But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me.8Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood.9As robbers lie in wait for a man, so the priests band together; they murder on the way to Shechem; they commit villainy.10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim's whoredom is there; Israel is defiled.11For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I restore the fortunes of my people.
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