1 ① Come, let us return to Yahweh. He who shattered us to pieces, will heal us as well; he has struck us down, but he will bind up our wounds. 2Two days later he will bring us back to life; on the third day, he will raise us up, and we shall live in his presence. 3Let us strive to know Yahweh. His coming is as certain as the dawn; (5c) his judgment will burst forth like the light; he will come to us as showers come, like spring rain that waters the earth.
4O Ephraim, what shall I do with you? O Judah, how shall I deal with you? This love of yours is like morning mist, like morning dew that quickly disappears. 5This is why I smote you through the prophets, and have slain you by the words of my mouth.
6For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice; it is knowledge of God, not burnt offerings. 7 ② At Adam they broke my covenant; there they were unfaithful to me. 8Gilead is a city of evildoers, stained with footprints of blood. 9Like thieves in an ambush, so are the priests; they murder on the road to Shechem and commit adultery. 10In Bethel I saw their disgraceful conduct; that is where Ephraim played the harlot and was defiled. 11(For you, too, Judah, I have a harvest stored when I bring back my captive people and heal Israel.)
- Hos 6,1 People regret their errors, but they are not so sincere as to abandon their sins. They think they will please God by offering a few sacrifices but are far from real love which manifests itself in obedience; they prefer to offer the costly sacrifices which they choose rather than to do what God asks of them. It is love that I desire, not sacrifice. On several occasions Jesus refuted the Pharisees by quoting this saying (see Mt 9:13). Hos 6,7 Adam, Gilead, Bethel: places where the worship of Yahweh is mixed with pagan customs.
- Hos 6,1 People regret their errors, but they are not so sincere as to abandon their sins. They think they will please God by offering a few sacrifices but are far from real love which manifests itself in obedience; they prefer to offer the costly sacrifices which they choose rather than to do what God asks of them. It is love that I desire, not sacrifice. On several occasions Jesus refuted the Pharisees by quoting this saying (see Mt 9:13). Hos 6,7 Adam, Gilead, Bethel: places where the worship of Yahweh is mixed with pagan customs.
