Hosea 6
MSG — The Message Bible (MSG)
NIRV — New International Reader's Version Bible (NIRV)
Verse 1
1-3 “Come on, let’s go back to God.
He hurt us, but he’ll heal us.
He hit us hard,
but he’ll put us right again.
In a couple of days we’ll feel better.
By the third day he’ll have made us brand-new,
Alive and on our feet,
fit to face him.
We’re ready to study God,
eager for God-knowledge.
As sure as dawn breaks,
so sure is his daily arrival.
He comes as rain comes,
as spring rain refreshing the ground.”
He hurt us, but he’ll heal us.
He hit us hard,
but he’ll put us right again.
In a couple of days we’ll feel better.
By the third day he’ll have made us brand-new,
Alive and on our feet,
fit to face him.
We’re ready to study God,
eager for God-knowledge.
As sure as dawn breaks,
so sure is his daily arrival.
He comes as rain comes,
as spring rain refreshing the ground.”
The people say, “Come.
Let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces.
But he will heal us.
He has wounded us.
But he’ll bandage our wounds.
Let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces.
But he will heal us.
He has wounded us.
But he’ll bandage our wounds.
Verse 2
— not in MSG
After two days he will give us new life.
On the third day he’ll make us like new again.
Then we will enjoy his blessing.
On the third day he’ll make us like new again.
Then we will enjoy his blessing.
Verse 3
— not in MSG
Let’s recognize him as the Lord.
Let’s keep trying to know him.
You can be sure the sun will rise.
And you can be just as sure the Lord will appear.
He will come to renew us like the winter rains.
He will be like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Let’s keep trying to know him.
You can be sure the sun will rise.
And you can be just as sure the Lord will appear.
He will come to renew us like the winter rains.
He will be like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Verse 4
“What am I to do with you, Ephraim?
What do I make of you, Judah?
Your declarations of love last no longer
than morning mist and predawn dew.
That’s why I use prophets to shake you to attention,
why my words cut you to the quick:
To wake you up to my judgment
blazing like light.
I’m after love that lasts, not more religion.
I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings.
You broke the covenant—just like Adam!
You broke faith with me—ungrateful wretches!
What do I make of you, Judah?
Your declarations of love last no longer
than morning mist and predawn dew.
That’s why I use prophets to shake you to attention,
why my words cut you to the quick:
To wake you up to my judgment
blazing like light.
I’m after love that lasts, not more religion.
I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings.
You broke the covenant—just like Adam!
You broke faith with me—ungrateful wretches!
The Lord says, “Ephraim, what can I do with you?
And what can I do with you, Judah?
Your love for me vanishes like the morning mist.
It soon disappears like the early dew.
And what can I do with you, Judah?
Your love for me vanishes like the morning mist.
It soon disappears like the early dew.
Verse 5
— not in MSG
So I used the words of my prophets to cut you in pieces.
I used my words to put you to death.
Then my judgments blazed out like the sun.
I used my words to put you to death.
Then my judgments blazed out like the sun.
Verse 6
— not in MSG
I want mercy and not sacrifice.
I want you to recognize me as God
instead of bringing me burnt offerings.
I want you to recognize me as God
instead of bringing me burnt offerings.
Verse 7
— not in MSG
Just as at the city of Adam, they disobeyed me,
they have broken the covenant I made with them.
They were not faithful to me there.
they have broken the covenant I made with them.
They were not faithful to me there.
Verse 8
“Gilead has become Crime City—
blood on the sidewalks, blood on the streets.
It used to be robbers who mugged pedestrians.
Now it’s gangs of priests
Assaulting worshipers on their way to Shechem.
Nothing is sacred to them.
blood on the sidewalks, blood on the streets.
It used to be robbers who mugged pedestrians.
Now it’s gangs of priests
Assaulting worshipers on their way to Shechem.
Nothing is sacred to them.
Ramoth Gilead is a city where sinful people live.
It is stained with footprints of blood.
It is stained with footprints of blood.
Verse 9
— not in MSG
On the road to Shechem, groups of priests act like robbers.
They hide and wait to attack people.
They murder them.
So they carry out their evil plans.
They hide and wait to attack people.
They murder them.
So they carry out their evil plans.
Verse 10
“I saw a shocking thing in the country of Israel:
Ephraim worshiping in a religious whorehouse,
and Israel in the mud right there with him.
Ephraim worshiping in a religious whorehouse,
and Israel in the mud right there with him.
I have seen a horrible thing in Israel.
The people of Ephraim are unfaithful to their own God.
The people of Israel are ‘unclean.’
The people of Ephraim are unfaithful to their own God.
The people of Israel are ‘unclean.’
Verse 11
“You’re as bad as the worst of them, Judah.
You’ve been sowing wild oats. Now it’s harvest time.”
You’ve been sowing wild oats. Now it’s harvest time.”
“People of Judah, I have also appointed a time
for you to be destroyed.
for you to be destroyed.
“I would like to bless my people
with great success again.