# Hosea 6 (New King James Version)
A Call to Repentance

##### Chapter 6
###### 1 Come, and let us return to the Lord;  
For He has torn, but He will heal us;  
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.  

###### 2 After two days He will revive us;  
On the third day He will raise us up,  
That we may live in His sight.  

###### 3 Let us know,  
Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.  
His going forth is established as the morning;  
He will come to us like the rain,  
Like the latter _and_ former rain to the earth.Impenitence of Israel and Judah

###### 4 "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.  

###### 5 Therefore I have hewn _them_ by the prophets,  
I have slain them by the words of My mouth;  
And your judgments _are like_ light _that_ goes forth.  

###### 6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,  
And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

###### 7 "But like men they transgressed the covenant;  
There they dealt treacherously with Me.  

###### 8 Gilead _is_ a city of evildoers  
_And_ defiled with blood.  

###### 9 As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man,  
_So_ the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem;  
Surely they commit lewdness.  

###### 10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel:  
There _is_ the harlotry of Ephraim;  
Israel is defiled.  

###### 11 Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you,  
When I return the captives of My people.