6 1 Affliction causeth a man to turn to God. 9 The wickedness of the Priests.
1 Come, and let [a]us return to the Lord: for he hath spoiled, and he will heal us: he hath wounded us, and he will bind us up.
2 After two days will [b]he revive us, and in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
3 Then shall we have knowledge, and endeavor ourselves to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning, and he shall come unto us as the rain, and as the latter rain unto the earth.
4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, how shall I entreat thee? for [c]your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the morning dew it goeth away.
5 Therefore have I [d]cut down by the Prophets: I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and thy [e]judgments were as the light that goeth forth.
6 For I desired [f]mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7 But they [g]like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they trespassed against me.
8 [h]Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.
9 And as the thieves wait for a man, so the company of Priests murder in the way by consent: for they work mischief.
10 I have seen villainy in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim: Israel is defiled.
11 Yea, Judah hath set a [i]plant for thee, while I would return the captivity of my people.
Footnotes
- Hosea 6:1 He showeth the people how they ought to turn to the Lord, that he might call back his plagues.
- Hosea 6:2 Though he correct us from time to time, yet his help will not be far off, if we return to him.
- Hosea 6:4 You seem to have a certain holiness and repentance, but it is upon the sudden, and as a morning cloud.
- Hosea 6:5 I have still labored by my prophets, and as it were framed you to bring you to amendment, but all was in vain: for my word was not food to feed them, but a sword to slay them.
- Hosea 6:5 My doctrine which I taught thee, was most evident.
- Hosea 6:6 He showeth to what scope his doctrine tended, that they should join the obedience of God, and the love of their neighbor with outward sacrifices.
- Hosea 6:7 That is, like light and weak persons.
- Hosea 6:8 Which was the place where the Priests dwelt, and which should have been best instructed in my word.
- Hosea 6:11 That is, doth imitate thine idolatry, and hath taken grafts of thy trees.