Hosea

Israel’s Punishment

1Do not rejoice, O Israel,with exultation like the nations,for you have played the harlot against your God;you have made love for hire on every threshing floor.

2The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them,and the new wine will fail them.

3They will not remainin the land of the LORD;Ephraimwill return to Egyptand eat unclean food in Assyria.

4They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD,and their sacrifices will not please Him,but will be to them like the bread of mourners;all who eat will be defiled.For their bread will be for themselves;it will not enter the house of the LORD.

5What will you do on the appointed day,on the day of the LORD’s feast?

6For even if they flee destruction,Egypt will gather them and Memphis will bury them.Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles,and thorns will overrun their tents.

7The days of punishment have come;the days of retribution have arrived— let Israel know it.The prophet is called a fool,and the inspired man insane,because of the greatnessof your iniquity and hostility.

8The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman,along with my God,yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths.Hostility is in the house of his God!

9They have deeply corrupted themselvesas in the days of Gibeah;He will remember their guilt;He will punish their sins.

10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness.I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season.But they went to Baal-peor,and consecrated themselves to Shame;so they became as detestableas the thing they loved.

11Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird,with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception.

12Even if they raise their children,I will bereave them of each one.Yes, woe be to themwhen I turn away from them!

13I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre,planted in a meadow.But Ephraim will bring outhis children for slaughter.

14Give them, O LORD—what will You give?Give them wombs that miscarryand breasts that dry up!

15All their evil appears at Gilgal,for there I hated them.I will drive them from My housefor the wickedness of their deeds.I will no longer love them;all their leaders are rebellious.

16Ephraim is struck down;their root is withered; they cannot bear fruit.Even if they bear children,I will slay the darlings of their wombs.

17My God will reject thembecause they have not obeyed Him;and they shall be wanderersamong the nations.

1Don’t rejoice, Israel, to jubilation like the nations;for you were unfaithful to your God. You love the wages of a prostitute at every grain threshing floor.

2The threshing floor and the wine press won’t feed them,and the new wine will fail her.

3They won’t dwell in the LORD’s land;but Ephraim will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in Assyria.

4They won’t pour out wine offerings to the LORD,neither will they be pleasing to him. Their sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat of it will be polluted; for their bread will be for their appetite. It will not come into the LORD’s house.

5What will you do in the day of solemn assembly,and in the day of the feast of the LORD?

6For, behold, when they flee destruction,Egypt will gather them up. Memphis will bury them. Nettles will possess their pleasant things of silver. Thorns will be in their tents.

7The days of visitation have come.The days of reckoning have come.Israel will consider the prophet to be a fool,and the man who is inspired to be insane, because of the abundance of your sins, and because your hostility is great.

8A prophet watches over Ephraim with my God.A fowler’s snare is on all of his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.

9They have deeply corrupted themselves,as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their iniquity. He will punish them for their sins.

10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness.I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved.

11As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird.There will be no birth, no one with child, and no conception.

12Though they bring up their children,yet I will bereave them, so that not a man shall be left. Indeed, woe also to them when I depart from them!

13I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place;but Ephraim will bring out his children to the murderer.

14Give them—LORD what will you give?Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

15“All their wickedness is in Gilgal;for there I hated them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds, I will drive them out of my house! I will love them no more. All their princes are rebels.

16Ephraim is struck.Their root has dried up. They will bear no fruit. Even though they give birth, yet I will kill the beloved ones of their womb.”

17My God will cast them away, because they didn’t listen to him;and they will be wanderers among the nations.