Mercy Not Sacrifice
Hosea 6
The people speak of returning to the Lord, who has torn them but will heal them and raise them up, yet the Lord answers that their devotion is as fleeting as a morning cloud or early dew. He declares that he desires mercy rather than sacrifice and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings, while naming the wickedness of Ephraim and Israel, including violence done by priests.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonIN their affliction they will seek Me early, saying, Come, let us return to the Lord our God, for it is He who hath torn and He can heal us. He can smite, and into our wounds He can pour balm;
BrentonLet us go, and return to the Lord our God; for he has torn, and will heal us; he will smite, and bind us up.
Greekπορευθῶμεν, καὶ ἐπιστρέψωμεν πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, ὅτι αὐτὸς ἥρπακε, καὶ ἰάσεται ἡμᾶς· πατάξει,
KJVCome, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
JPS’Come, and let us return unto the LORD; For He hath torn, and He will heal us, He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.
2
Thomsonin two days He can restore us to health; on the third day we shall be raised up and live before Him.
BrentonAfter two days he will heal us: in the third day we shall arise, and live before him, and shall know him:
Greekκαὶ μοτώσει ἡμᾶς, ὑγιάσει ἡμᾶς μετὰ δύο ἡμέρας· ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ ἐξαναστησόμεθα,
KJVAfter two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
JPSAfter two days will He revive us, On the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.
3
ThomsonLet us acknowledge—let us continue our pursuit to know the Lord; sure as the morning we shall find Him. He will come like rain for us; like the former and latter rain for the earth.
Brentonlet us follow on to know the Lord: we shall find him ready as the morning, and he will come to us as the early and latter rain to the earth.
Greekκαὶ ζησόμεθα ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, καὶ γνωσόμεθα· διώξωμεν τοῦ γνῶναι τὸν Κύριον· ὡς ὄρθρον ἕτοιμον εὑρήσομεν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἥξει ὡς ὑετὸς ἡμῖν πρώϊμος καὶ ὄψιμος γῇ.
KJVThen shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
JPSAnd let us know, eagerly strive to know the LORD, His going forth is sure as the morning; And He shall come unto us as the rain, As the latter rain that watereth the earth.’
4
ThomsonWhat shall I do for thee, Ephraim? What shall I do for thee, Juda? As for your goodness, it was like a morning cloud—like the transient dew of the morning:
BrentonWhat shall I do unto thee, Ephraim? What shall I do to thee, Juda? whereas your mercy is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew that goes away.
GreekΤί σοι ποιήσω Ἐφραίμ; τί σοι ποιήσω Ἰούδα; τὸ δὲ ἔλεος ὑμῶν ὡς νεφέλη πρωϊνὴ, καὶ ὡς δρόσος ὀρθρινὴ πορευομένη.
KJVO Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
JPSO Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, And as the dew that early passeth away.
5
Thomsonfor this cause I mowed down your prophets, I slew them with the word of My mouth, and My judgment shall go forth as light;
BrentonTherefore have I mown down your prophets; I have slain them with the word of my mouth: and my judgment shall go forth as the light.
GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο ἀπεθέρισα τοὺς προφήτας ὑμῶν· ἀπέκτεινα αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥήματι στόματός μου· καὶ τὸ κρίμα μου ὡς φῶς ἐξελεύσεται.
KJVTherefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
JPSTherefore have I hewed them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And thy judgment goeth forth as the light.
6
Thomsonfor I desire mercy rather than sacrifice, and an acknowledgment of God rather than whole burnt offerings.
BrentonFor I will have mercy rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than whole-burnt-offerings.
GreekΔιότι ἔλεος θέλω ἢ θυσίαν, καὶ ἐπίγνωσιν Θεοῦ ἢ ὁλοκαυτώματα.
KJVFor I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
JPSFor I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.
7
ThomsonAs for them, they are like a man transgressing a covenant.
BrentonBut they are as a man transgressing a covenant:
GreekΑὐτοὶ δέ εἰσιν ὡς ἄνθρωπος παραβαίνων διαθήκην· ἐκεῖ κατεφρόνησέ μου Γαλαὰδ πόλις,
KJV—
JPS—
8
ThomsonThere the city Galaad hath contemned Me; it is a framer of vanities,
Brentonthere the city Galaad despised me, working vanity, troubling water.
Greekἐργαζομένη μάταια, ταράσσουσα ὕδωρ,
KJV—
JPS—
9
Thomsona troubler of water, and thy strength was that of a mighty robber. The priests concealed the way; they acted the murder at Sikima.
BrentonAnd thy strength is that of a robber: the priests have hid the way, they have murdered the people of Sicima; for they have wrought iniquity in the house of Israel.
Greekκαὶ ἡ ἰσχύς σου ἀνδρὸς πειρατοῦ· ἔκρυψαν ἱερεῖς ὁδόν, ἐφόνευσαν Σίκιμα, ὅτι ἀνομίαν ἐποίησαν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ· εἶδον φρικώδη ἐκεῖ,
KJV—
JPS—
10
ThomsonBecause they committed iniquity in the house of Israel, I saw there the horrible fornication of Ephraim. Israel is polluted.
BrentonI have seen horrible things there, even the fornication of Ephraim: Israel and Juda are defiled;
Greekπορνείαν τοῦ Ἐφραίμ· ἐμιάνθη Ἰσραὴλ καὶ Ἰούδα· ἄρχου τρυγᾷν σεαυτῷ,
KJVI have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
JPSIn the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; There harlotry is found in Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
11
ThomsonNow Juda begin an ingathering for thyself. When I bring back the captivity of My people.
Brentonbegin to gather grapes for thyself, when I turn the captivity of my people.
Greekἐν τῷ ἐπιστρέφειν με τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν τοῦ λαοῦ μου.
KJVAlso, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.
JPSAlso, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for thee! When I would turn the captivity of My people,