the Fifth Week after Easter
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Hosea 6
Israel Unrepentant
1 "Come, let us return(a) to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces(b)
but he will heal us;(c)
he has injured us
but he will bind up our wounds.(d)
2 After two days he will revive us;(e)
on the third day(f) he will restore(g) us,
that we may live in his presence.
3 Let us acknowledge the Lord;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,(h)
like the spring rains that water the earth.(i)"
4 "What can I do with you, Ephraim?(j)
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears.(k)
5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
I killed you with the words of my mouth(l)—
then my judgments go forth like the sun.[a](m)
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,(n)
and acknowledgment(o) of God rather than burnt offerings.(p)
7 As at Adam,[b] they have broken the covenant;(q)
they were unfaithful(r) to me there.
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,(s)
stained with footprints of blood.
9 As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,(t)
so do bands of priests;
they murder(u) on the road to Shechem,
carrying out their wicked schemes.(v)
10 I have seen a horrible(w) thing in Israel:
There Ephraim is given to prostitution,
Israel is defiled.(x)
11 "Also for you, Judah,
a harvest(y) is appointed.
"Whenever I would restore the fortunes(z) of my people,
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