10 Israel was a spreading vine;(A)
    he brought forth fruit for himself.
As his fruit increased,
    he built more altars;(B)
as his land prospered,(C)
    he adorned his sacred stones.(D)
Their heart is deceitful,(E)
    and now they must bear their guilt.(F)
The Lord will demolish their altars(G)
    and destroy their sacred stones.(H)

Then they will say, “We have no king
    because we did not revere the Lord.
But even if we had a king,
    what could he do for us?”
They make many promises,
    take false oaths(I)
    and make agreements;(J)
therefore lawsuits spring up
    like poisonous weeds(K) in a plowed field.
The people who live in Samaria fear
    for the calf-idol(L) of Beth Aven.[a](M)
Its people will mourn over it,
    and so will its idolatrous priests,(N)
those who had rejoiced over its splendor,
    because it is taken from them into exile.(O)
It will be carried to Assyria(P)
    as tribute(Q) for the great king.(R)
Ephraim will be disgraced;(S)
    Israel will be ashamed(T) of its foreign alliances.
Samaria’s king will be destroyed,(U)
    swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.
The high places(V) of wickedness[b](W) will be destroyed—
    it is the sin of Israel.
Thorns(X) and thistles will grow up
    and cover their altars.(Y)
Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”(Z)
    and to the hills, “Fall on us!”(AA)

“Since the days of Gibeah,(AB) you have sinned,(AC) Israel,
    and there you have remained.[c]
Will not war again overtake
    the evildoers in Gibeah?
10 When I please, I will punish(AD) them;
    nations will be gathered against them
    to put them in bonds for their double sin.
11 Ephraim is a trained heifer
    that loves to thresh;
so I will put a yoke(AE)
    on her fair neck.
I will drive Ephraim,
    Judah must plow,
    and Jacob must break up the ground.
12 Sow(AF) righteousness(AG) for yourselves,
    reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;(AH)
    for it is time to seek(AI) the Lord,
until he comes
    and showers his righteousness(AJ) on you.
13 But you have planted wickedness,
    you have reaped evil,(AK)
    you have eaten the fruit of deception.(AL)
Because you have depended on your own strength
    and on your many warriors,(AM)
14 the roar of battle will rise against your people,
    so that all your fortresses will be devastated(AN)
as Shalman(AO) devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle,
    when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.(AP)
15 So will it happen to you, Bethel,
    because your wickedness is great.
When that day dawns,
    the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.(AQ)

God’s Love for Israel

11 “When Israel was a child,(AR) I loved(AS) him,
    and out of Egypt I called my son.(AT)
But the more they were called,
    the more they went away from me.[d](AU)
They sacrificed to the Baals(AV)
    and they burned incense to images.(AW)
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
    taking them by the arms;(AX)
but they did not realize
    it was I who healed(AY) them.
I led them with cords of human kindness,
    with ties of love.(AZ)
To them I was like one who lifts
    a little child to the cheek,
    and I bent down to feed(BA) them.(BB)

“Will they not return to Egypt(BC)
    and will not Assyria(BD) rule over them
    because they refuse to repent?(BE)
A sword(BF) will flash in their cities;
    it will devour(BG) their false prophets
    and put an end to their plans.
My people are determined to turn(BH) from me.(BI)
    Even though they call me God Most High,
    I will by no means exalt them.

“How can I give you up,(BJ) Ephraim?(BK)
    How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
    How can I make you like Zeboyim?(BL)
My heart is changed within me;
    all my compassion(BM) is aroused.(BN)
I will not carry out my fierce anger,(BO)
    nor will I devastate(BP) Ephraim again.
For I am God, and not a man(BQ)
    the Holy One(BR) among you.
    I will not come against their cities.
10 They will follow the Lord;
    he will roar(BS) like a lion.(BT)
When he roars,
    his children will come trembling(BU) from the west.(BV)
11 They will come from Egypt,
    trembling like sparrows,
    from Assyria,(BW) fluttering like doves.(BX)
I will settle them in their homes,”(BY)
    declares the Lord.

Israel’s Sin

12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,(BZ)
    Israel with deceit.
And Judah is unruly against God,
    even against the faithful(CA) Holy One.[e](CB)

12 [f]Ephraim(CC) feeds on the wind;(CD)
    he pursues the east wind all day
    and multiplies lies and violence.(CE)
He makes a treaty with Assyria(CF)
    and sends olive oil to Egypt.(CG)
The Lord has a charge(CH) to bring against Judah;(CI)
    he will punish(CJ) Jacob[g] according to his ways
    and repay him according to his deeds.(CK)
In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;(CL)
    as a man he struggled(CM) with God.
He struggled with the angel and overcame him;
    he wept and begged for his favor.
He found him at Bethel(CN)
    and talked with him there—
the Lord God Almighty,
    the Lord is his name!(CO)
But you must return(CP) to your God;
    maintain love and justice,(CQ)
    and wait for your God always.(CR)

The merchant uses dishonest scales(CS)
    and loves to defraud.
Ephraim boasts,(CT)
    “I am very rich; I have become wealthy.(CU)
With all my wealth they will not find in me
    any iniquity or sin.”

“I have been the Lord your God
    ever since you came out of Egypt;(CV)
I will make you live in tents(CW) again,
    as in the days of your appointed festivals.
10 I spoke to the prophets,
    gave them many visions
    and told parables(CX) through them.”(CY)

11 Is Gilead wicked?(CZ)
    Its people are worthless!
Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?(DA)
    Their altars will be like piles of stones
    on a plowed field.(DB)
12 Jacob fled to the country of Aram[h];(DC)
    Israel served to get a wife,
    and to pay for her he tended sheep.(DD)
13 The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt,(DE)
    by a prophet he cared for him.(DF)
14 But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger;
    his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed(DG)
    and will repay him for his contempt.(DH)

Notas al pie

  1. Hosea 10:5 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).
  2. Hosea 10:8 Hebrew aven, a reference to Beth Aven (a derogatory name for Bethel); see verse 5.
  3. Hosea 10:9 Or there a stand was taken
  4. Hosea 11:2 Septuagint; Hebrew them
  5. Hosea 11:12 In Hebrew texts this verse (11:12) is numbered 12:1.
  6. Hosea 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-14 is numbered 12:2-15.
  7. Hosea 12:2 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he takes advantage of or he deceives.
  8. Hosea 12:12 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia

Israel’s Sin and Captivity

10 Israel (A)empties his vine;
He brings forth fruit for himself.
According to the multitude of his fruit
(B)He has increased the altars;
According to the bounty of his land
They have embellished his sacred pillars.
Their heart is (C)divided;[a]
Now they are held guilty.
He will break down their altars;
He will ruin their sacred pillars.

For now they say,
“We have no king,
Because we did not fear the Lord.
And as for a king, what would he do for us?”
They have spoken words,
Swearing falsely in making a covenant.
Thus judgment springs up (D)like hemlock in the furrows of the field.

The inhabitants of Samaria fear
Because of the (E)calf[b] of Beth Aven.
For its people mourn for it,
And [c]its priests shriek for it—
Because its (F)glory has departed from it.
The idol also shall be carried to Assyria
As a present for King (G)Jareb.
Ephraim shall receive shame,
And Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

As for Samaria, her king is cut off
Like a twig on the water.
Also the (H)high places of [d]Aven, (I)the sin of Israel,
Shall be destroyed.
The thorn and thistle shall grow on their altars;
(J)They shall say to the mountains, “Cover us!”
And to the hills, “Fall on us!”

“O Israel, you have sinned from the days of (K)Gibeah;
There they stood.
The (L)battle in Gibeah against the children of [e]iniquity
Did not [f]overtake them.
10 When it is My desire, I will chasten them.
(M)Peoples shall be gathered against them
When I bind them [g]for their two transgressions.
11 Ephraim is (N)a trained heifer
That loves to thresh grain;
But I harnessed her fair neck,
I will make Ephraim [h]pull a plow.
Judah shall plow;
Jacob shall break his clods.”

12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
(O)Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord,
Till He (P)comes and rains righteousness on you.

13 (Q)You have plowed wickedness;
You have reaped iniquity.
You have eaten the fruit of lies,
Because you trusted in your own way,
In the multitude of your mighty men.
14 Therefore tumult shall arise among your people,
And all your fortresses shall be plundered
As Shalman plundered Beth Arbel in the day of battle—
A mother dashed in pieces upon her children.
15 Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,
Because of your great wickedness.
At dawn the king of Israel
Shall be cut off utterly.

God’s Continuing Love for Israel

11 “When Israel was a [i]child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt (R)I called My (S)son.
[j]As they called them,
So they (T)went [k]from them;
They sacrificed to the Baals,
And burned incense to carved images.

“I(U) taught Ephraim to walk,
Taking them by [l]their arms;
But they did not know that (V)I healed them.
I drew them with [m]gentle cords,
With bands of love,
And (W)I was to them as those who take the yoke from their [n]neck.
(X)I stooped and fed them.

“He shall not return to the land of Egypt;
But the Assyrian shall be his king,
Because they refused to repent.
And the sword shall slash in his cities,
Devour his districts,
And consume them,
Because of their own counsels.
My people are bent on (Y)backsliding from Me.
Though [o]they call [p]to the Most High,
None at all exalt Him.

“How(Z) can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like (AA)Admah?
How can I set you like Zeboiim?
My heart [q]churns within Me;
My sympathy is stirred.
I will not execute the fierceness of My anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim.
(AB)For I am God, and not man,
The Holy One in your midst;
And I will not [r]come with terror.

10 “They shall walk after the Lord.
(AC)He will roar like a lion.
When He roars,
Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;
11 They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt,
(AD)Like a dove from the land of Assyria.
(AE)And I will let them dwell in their houses,”
Says the Lord.

God’s Charge Against Ephraim

12 “Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,
And the house of Israel with deceit;
But Judah still walks with God,
Even with the [s]Holy One who is faithful.

Ephraim’s Sins Rebuked by God

12 “Ephraim (AF)feeds on the wind,
And pursues the east wind;
He daily increases lies and [t]desolation.
(AG)Also they make a [u]covenant with the Assyrians,
And (AH)oil is carried to Egypt.

“The(AI) Lord also brings a [v]charge against Judah,
And will punish Jacob according to his ways;
According to his deeds He will recompense him.
He took his brother (AJ)by the heel in the womb,
And in his strength he (AK)struggled with God.
Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed;
He wept, and sought favor from Him.
He found Him in (AL)Bethel,
And there He spoke to us—
That is, the Lord God of hosts.
The Lord is His (AM)memorable name.
(AN)So you, by the help of your God, return;
Observe mercy and justice,
And wait on your God continually.

“A cunning [w]Canaanite!
(AO)Deceitful scales are in his hand;
He loves to oppress.
And Ephraim said,
(AP)‘Surely I have become rich,
I have found wealth for myself;
In all my labors
They shall find in me no iniquity that is sin.’

“But I am the Lord your God,
Ever since the land of Egypt;
(AQ)I will again make you dwell in tents,
As in the days of the appointed feast.
10 (AR)I have also spoken by the prophets,
And have multiplied visions;
I have given [x]symbols [y]through the witness of the prophets.”

11 Though (AS)Gilead has idols—
Surely they are [z]vanity—
Though they sacrifice bulls in (AT)Gilgal,
Indeed their altars shall be heaps in the furrows of the field.

12 Jacob (AU)fled to the country of Syria;
(AV)Israel served for a spouse,
And for a wife he tended sheep.
13 (AW)By a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt,
And by a prophet he was preserved.
14 Ephraim (AX)provoked Him to anger most bitterly;
Therefore his Lord will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him,
(AY)And return his reproach upon him.

Notas al pie

  1. Hosea 10:2 Divided in loyalty
  2. Hosea 10:5 Lit. calves, images
  3. Hosea 10:5 idolatrous priests
  4. Hosea 10:8 Lit. Idolatry or Wickedness
  5. Hosea 10:9 So with many Heb. mss., LXX, Vg.; MT unruliness
  6. Hosea 10:9 Or overcome
  7. Hosea 10:10 Or in their two habitations
  8. Hosea 10:11 Lit. to ride
  9. Hosea 11:1 Or youth
  10. Hosea 11:2 So with MT, Vg.; LXX Just as I called them; Tg. interprets as I sent prophets to a thousand of them.
  11. Hosea 11:2 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX from My face
  12. Hosea 11:3 Some Heb. mss., LXX, Syr., Vg. My arms
  13. Hosea 11:4 Lit. cords of a man
  14. Hosea 11:4 Lit. jaws
  15. Hosea 11:7 The prophets
  16. Hosea 11:7 Or upward
  17. Hosea 11:8 Lit. turns over
  18. Hosea 11:9 Or enter a city
  19. Hosea 11:12 Or holy ones
  20. Hosea 12:1 ruin
  21. Hosea 12:1 Or treaty
  22. Hosea 12:2 A legal complaint
  23. Hosea 12:7 Or merchant
  24. Hosea 12:10 Or parables
  25. Hosea 12:10 Lit. by the hand
  26. Hosea 12:11 worthless

BOOK III

Psalms 73–89

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

Surely God is good to Israel,
    to those who are pure in heart.(A)

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;(B)
    I had nearly lost my foothold.(C)
For I envied(D) the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(E)

They have no struggles;
    their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
They are free(F) from common human burdens;
    they are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride(G) is their necklace;(H)
    they clothe themselves with violence.(I)
From their callous hearts(J) comes iniquity[b];
    their evil imaginations have no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;(K)
    with arrogance(L) they threaten oppression.(M)
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Most High know anything?”

12 This is what the wicked are like—
    always free of care,(N) they go on amassing wealth.(O)

13 Surely in vain(P) I have kept my heart pure
    and have washed my hands in innocence.(Q)
14 All day long I have been afflicted,(R)
    and every morning brings new punishments.

15 If I had spoken out like that,
    I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand(S) all this,
    it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary(T) of God;
    then I understood their final destiny.(U)

18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;(V)
    you cast them down to ruin.(W)
19 How suddenly(X) are they destroyed,
    completely swept away(Y) by terrors!
20 They are like a dream(Z) when one awakes;(AA)
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.(AB)

21 When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless(AC) and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast(AD) before you.

23 Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.(AE)
24 You guide(AF) me with your counsel,(AG)
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?(AH)
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.(AI)
26 My flesh and my heart(AJ) may fail,(AK)
    but God is the strength(AL) of my heart
    and my portion(AM) forever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish;(AN)
    you destroy all who are unfaithful(AO) to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.(AP)
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;(AQ)
    I will tell of all your deeds.(AR)

Notas al pie

  1. Psalm 73:4 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text struggles at their death; / their bodies are healthy
  2. Psalm 73:7 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew Their eyes bulge with fat
  3. Psalm 73:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.

BOOK THREE

Psalms 73–89

The Tragedy of the Wicked, and the Blessedness of Trust in God

A Psalm of (A)Asaph.

73 Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly (B)slipped.
(C)For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the (D)wicked.

For there are no [a]pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
(E)They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.
Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
Violence covers them (F)like a garment.
(G)Their [b]eyes bulge with abundance;
They have more than heart could wish.
(H)They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They (I)speak [c]loftily.
They set their mouth (J)against the heavens,
And their tongue walks through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return here,
(K)And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 And they say, (L)“How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
13 Surely I have [d]cleansed my heart in (M)vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
16 When I thought how to understand this,
It was [e]too painful for me—
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their (N)end.

18 Surely (O)You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.

21 Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was [f]vexed in my mind.
22 (P)I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
24 (Q)You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.

25 (R)Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26 (S)My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the [g]strength of my heart and my (T)portion forever.

27 For indeed, (U)those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who [h]desert You for harlotry.
28 But it is good for me to (V)draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord God,
That I may (W)declare all Your works.

Notas al pie

  1. Psalm 73:4 pains
  2. Psalm 73:7 Tg. face bulges; LXX, Syr., Vg. iniquity bulges
  3. Psalm 73:8 Proudly
  4. Psalm 73:13 kept my heart pure in vain
  5. Psalm 73:16 troublesome in my eyes
  6. Psalm 73:21 Lit. pierced in my kidneys
  7. Psalm 73:26 Lit. rock
  8. Psalm 73:27 Are unfaithful to You

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.(A) For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[a](B) Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”[b](C)

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”[c](D) And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”(E)

Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,(F) God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts.”[d](G)

For if Joshua had given them rest,(H) God would not have spoken(I) later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e](J) just as God did from his.(K) 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.(L)

12 For the word of God(M) is alive(N) and active.(O) Sharper than any double-edged sword,(P) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(Q) 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.(R) Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest(S) who has ascended into heaven,[f](T) Jesus the Son of God,(U) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.(V) 15 For we do not have a high priest(W) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are(X)—yet he did not sin.(Y) 16 Let us then approach(Z) God’s throne of grace with confidence,(AA) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Notas al pie

  1. Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts because those who heard did not combine it with faith
  2. Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5
  3. Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2
  4. Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7,8
  5. Hebrews 4:10 Or labor
  6. Hebrews 4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens

The Promise of Rest

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, (A)let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, [a]not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

(B)“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: (C)“And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: (D)“They shall not enter My rest.”

Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

(E)“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”

For if [b]Joshua had (F)given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

The Word Discovers Our Condition

11 (G)Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is (H)living and powerful, and (I)sharper than any (J)two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is (K)a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 (L)And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are (M)naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Our Compassionate High Priest

14 Seeing then that we have a great (N)High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, (O)let us hold fast our confession. 15 For (P)we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but (Q)was in all points tempted as we are, (R)yet without sin. 16 (S)Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Notas al pie

  1. Hebrews 4:2 NU, M since they were not united by faith with those who heeded it
  2. Hebrews 4:8 Gr. Jesus, same as Heb. Joshua