Hosea Chapter 6
Hosea draws on his conjugal experience, in which he was dedicated to his wife, even though he knew she was unfaithful, to illustrate the adultery Israel had committed against God and to show how God's faithful love for his people never changes.
American King James Version
6 : 1 Come, and let us return to the LORD: for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has smitten, and he will bind us up.
6 : 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
6 : 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth.
6 : 4 O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away.
6 : 5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and your judgments are as the light that goes forth.
6 : 6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
6 : 7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
6 : 8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.
6 : 9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.
6 : 10 I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the prostitution of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
6 : 11 Also, O Judah, he has set an harvest for you, when I returned the captivity of my people.