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¶ Men mesaj Seyè a te bay Oze, pitit Beeri, nan tan Ozyas, Jotam, Akaz ak Ezekyas te wa, yonn apre lòt, nan peyi Jida. Lè sa a, se Jewoboram, pitit Joas, ki te wa nan peyi Izrayèl.

¶ Premye fwa Seyè a t'ap bay Oze mesaj pou pèp Izrayèl la, li di l' konsa: -Leve non! Al marye ak yon fanm jennès nan san ki pral twonpe ou. Kanta pou pitit w'ap gen avè l' yo, y'ap gen menm san jennès la tou. Se konsa pèp la vire do ban mwen. Yo pa kenbe pawòl yo te gen avè m'.

Se konsa, Oze leve, li al marye ak Gomè, pitit fi Diblayim. Gomè vin ansent, li fè yon pitit gason.

Seyè a di Oze konsa: -W'a rele l' Jizreyèl paske talè konsa, mwen pral pini wa Izrayèl la pou krim Jeou, zansèt li a, te fè lavil Jizreyèl. Mwen pral wete gouvènman an nan men moun ras Izrayèl yo.

Jou sa a, m'ap kraze tout zam pèp Izrayèl yo nan Fon Jizreyèl la.

Gomè vin ansent ankò. Li fè yon pitit fi. Lè sa a, Seyè a di Oze konsa: -W'a rele l' Lowouchama, paske m'ap san pitye pou moun Izrayèl yo ankò. p'ap gen padon pou yo.

Men, m'ap gen pitye pou moun peyi Jida yo. Mwen menm, Seyè a, Bondye yo a, m'ap delivre yo. Men, mwen p'ap fè l' ni avèk flèch, ni avèk nepe, ni nan goumen, ni avèk chwal ak kavalye.

¶ Apre Gomè fin sevre Lowouchama, li vin ansent ankò. Li fè yon pitit gason.

Lè sa a, Seyè a di Oze: -W'ap rele l' Lorami, paske moun peyi Izrayèl yo pa moun pa m' ankò. Mwen menm, mwen pa Bondye yo ankò.

10 Moun pèp Izrayèl yo va tankou sab bò lanmè: moun p'ap ka ni konte yo, ni konnen kantite ki va genyen. Si koulye a Bondye ap di: Nou pa moun pa m' ankò, yon jou l'a di yo: Nou se pitit Bondye vivan an.

11 Moun peyi Jida ak moun peyi Izrayèl va mete tèt yo ansanm ankò. Y'a chwazi yon sèl chèf pou mache alatèt yo. Y'a grandi. Zafè yo va mache nan peyi a. Wi, jou Jizreyèl la pral yon gwo jou.

¶ Se konsa n'a rele frè nou yo moun Bondye. N'a rele sè nou yo moun Bondye gen pitye pou yo.

Pitit mwen yo, pale ak manman nou. Paske li pa madanm mwen ankò. Mwen pa mari l' non plis. Pale avè l' pou l' sispann sèvi tankou jennès, pou l' wete nan kòsaj li bann zidòl li renmen anpil yo.

Si li pa fè sa, m'ap dezabiye l' nèt, pou l' rete toutouni jan manman l' te fè l'. M'ap fè l' tounen tankou tè sèk ki pa jwenn lapli. M'ap fè l' mouri swaf dlo.

Mwen p'ap gen pitye pou pitit li yo non plis. Paske yo se pitit yon fanm ki nan jennès.

Manman yo lage kò l' nan fè jennès. Wi, li menm ki te pote yo nan vant li, li avili tèt li, paske l'ap di: mwen pral jwenn nonm mwen yo. Yo ban m' tou sa m' bezwen. Yo ban m' manje, yo ban m' bwè. Yo ban m' twal lenn ak twal fen. Yo ban m' lwil oliv, yo ban m' diven pou m' bwè.

¶ Se poutèt sa mwen pral fèmen l' nan mitan yon lantouraj pikan. Mwen pral moute yon gwo miray fè wonn li. Konsa li p'ap ka mete pye l' deyò.

L'a chache mwayen pou li al kouri dèyè nonm li yo, men li p'ap ka rive jwenn yo. L'a chache yo toupatou, men li p'ap jwenn yo. Lè sa a, l'a di: M'ap tounen vin jwenn premye mari mwen an, paske avè l' zafè m' te pi bon pase koulye a.

Pèp Izrayèl la pa t' rekonèt se mwen menm ki te ba li farin, diven ak lwil. Ata lò ak ajan, se mwen ki te ba li yo an kantite. Men, li pran yo pou fè sèvis Baal.

Se poutèt sa, lè sezon rekòt la rive, m'ap reprann farin ak diven mwen te ba li a. M'ap reprann twal lenn ak twal fin mwen te ba li pou fè rad met sou li.

10 M'ap kite l' toutouni devan tout nonm li yo. Pesonn p'ap ka vin sove l' anba men mwen.

11 Mwen pral fè l' sispann gen kè kontan. Mwen pral sispann tout fèt li yo, fèt lalin nouvèl li yo, fèt repo l' yo ak gwo fèt li fete chak lanne yo.

12 Kanta jaden rezen ak pye fig frans li yo, li di se nonm li yo ki te ba li yo. Enben, m'ap ravaje sa. M'ap fè yo tounen raje, bèt nan bwa va devore yo.

13 Mwen pral pini l' pou tout tan li te bliye m' lan, lè li t'ap boule lansan devan Baal yo, lè li t'ap mete zanno ak kolye pou l' te ka kouri dèyè nonm li yo. Se Seyè a menm ki di sa.

14 ¶ Se poutèt sa, mwen pral mennen l' nan dezè a ankò. Mwen pral pale dous avè l', pou l' ka tounen vin jwenn mwen.

15 M'a ba li jaden rezen li te gen anvan yo. M'a fè sa ki te rive l' nan Fon Malè a tounen yon okazyon pou l' jwenn sa li t'ap tann lan. L'a reponn mwen menm jan li te fè l' lè li te jenn lan, lè l' te chape anba men moun peyi Lejip yo.

16 Jou sa a, l'a rele m' mari l', li p'ap rele m' Baal li ankò. Se mwen menm, Seyè a, k'ap di sa.

17 Mwen p'ap janm kite non Baal yo soti nan bouch li, li p'ap janm nonmen non yo ankò.

18 Lè sa a, m'a pase yon kontra avèk tout zannimo nan savann ak tout zwazo k'ap vole nan syèl la ak tout bèt k'ap trennen sou vant pou yo pa fè pèp la anyen. M'ap kraze banza ak nepe pou yo pa fè lagè ankò nan peyi a, pou moun ka kouche dòmi ak kè poze san danje.

19 Izrayèl, m'ap pran angajman pou m' viv avè ou pou tout tan, m'ap toujou respekte ou, m'ap toujou kenbe pawòl mwen avè ou. M'ap toujou renmen ou, m'ap toujou gen pitye pou ou.

20 M'ap kenbe pwomès mwen, w'ap pou mwen nèt. Konsa, w'a konnen ki moun mwen menm, Seyè a, mwen ye.

21 Jou sa a, m'a reponn lapriyè tout moun. Se Seyè a menm ki di sa. M'ap fè lapli soti nan syèl tonbe sou latè.

22 Tè a va bay manje, diven ak lwil. Se konsa m'a reponn lapriyè moun Jizreyèl yo.

23 M'ap fè yo peple nan peyi a. M'a gen pitye pou moun mwen te meprize yo. M'a pale ak moun ki pa moun pa m' yo, m'a di yo: Se pèp mwen nou ye. Yo menm, y'a reponn: Wi, se Bondye nou ou ye.

¶ Seyè a pale ak mwen ankò, li di m' konsa: -Ale non, Oze! Al renmen yon fanm k'ap fè adiltè sou mari l' ak yon lòt gason. Se pou ou renmen l' menm jan mwen menm, Seyè a, mwen renmen pèp Izrayèl la, atout l'ap vire do ban mwen al jwenn lòt bondye, atout li renmen ofri gato rezen ba yo.

Se konsa, m' al achte yon fanm k'ap fè adiltè, mwen peye kenz pyès ajan ak sèt barik lòj pou li.

Mwen di l'. -Ou pral rete avè m' atò, machè! Ou pral sispann lage kò ou nan dezòd. Ou pa pral kouche ak ankenn gason. Mwen menm tou, mwen p'ap nan kouche avè ou.

Konsa tou, moun Izrayèl yo pral rete pase kèk tan san wa, san chèf, san fè ofrann bèt, san wòch lotèl, san plastwon pou prèt yo.

Apre sa, moun Izrayèl yo va tounen sou sa yo te fè a. Seyè a, Bondye yo a, va fè yo chache l', y'a tounen vin jwenn David, wa yo a. Y'a gen krentif pou Seyè a. Apre sa, y'a toujou resevwa favè l'.

¶ Seyè a gen yon pwose l'ap mennen ak moun k'ap viv nan peyi a. Nou menm, pitit Izrayèl yo, koute sa Seyè a ap di: -Nan peyi a, bonjou moun pa laverite. Yo pa gen bon kè ankò. Pa gen moun ki konn Bondye ankò nan peyi a.

Se fè sèman pou gremesi, se bay manti. Se touye moun, se vòlò, se fè adiltè. Y'ap kraze gason, se krim sou krim.

Se poutèt sa, peyi a pral nan lapenn. Tout moun nan peyi a pral deperi. Tout zannimo nan savann, tout zwazo k'ap vole nan syèl, tout pwason nan lanmè pral mouri.

Seyè a di: Piga pesonn louvri bouch yo di yon mo! Piga pesonn kritike anyen! Se nou menm prèt yo, m'ap akize koulye a.

Gwo lajounen, n'ap fè sa nou pa t' dwe fè. Lannwit menm, ata pwofèt yo ap fè tankou nou. Se fini m'ap fini ak pèp la ki tankou yon manman sitirèz pou nou.

¶ Pèp mwen an ap fini, paske li pa konnen mwen. Prèt yo voye tou sa mwen te moutre yo jete. Se konsa, mwen menm tou, mwen p'ap rekonèt yo pou prèt mwen ankò. Yo voye tou sa mwen menm, Bondye yo a, mwen te moutre yo a jete. Mwen menm tou, m'ap voye pitit yo jete.

Plis nou gen prèt, se plis n'ap fè sa ki mal devan je m'. Se poutèt sa, kote pou yo ta respekte nou an, se la y'ap fè nou wont.

Plis pèp la plonje nan fè peche, se plis n'ap vin pi rich. Se konsa nou ta renmen wè pèp la fè peche plis toujou.

Sa k'ap rive pèp la, se sa k'ap rive nou tou, nou menm prèt yo. M'ap regle nou pou tout move mès nou yo. M'ap fè nou peye tou sa nou fè ki mal.

10 N'a manje sa ki pou nou nan bèt nou ofri yo, men n'a rete grangou toujou. N'ap fè sèvis pou zidòl yo pretann di k'ap bay pitit, men n'a rete san fè pitit. Tou sa, paske nou vire do bay Seyè a pou nou kouri dèyè lòt bondye.

11 Seyè a di: -Nan sèvi lòt bondye, fanm, diven ak bweson fè pèp la pèdi tèt li.

12 ¶ Se yon moso bwa y' al mande sa pou yo fè! Se yon bout bwa ki pou di yo sa yo bezwen konnen! Yo tankou yon fanm marye ki lage kò l' nan fè jennès, yo pèdi tèt yo. Y'ap kouri dèyè lòt bondye, y'ap twonpe Seyè a!

13 Yo moute sou tèt mòn yo al ofri bèt pou touye. Y' al boule lansan sou ti mòn yo, anba pye bwadchenn, anba pye sikren ak pye mapou, kote ki gen bon lonbraj! Se poutèt sa, pitit fi yo ap lage kò yo nan jennès, bèlfi yo ap fè adiltè.

14 Non. Mwen p'ap pini ni pitit fi nou yo, ni bèlfi nou yo pou sa y'ap fè a, paske se nou menm gason k'ap fèmen kò nou apa ak medam k'ap fè jennès nan tanp yo. Nou mete tèt ansanm ak yo pou fè sèvis pou lòt bondye. Tankou pawòl la di: Yon pèp ki san konprann, se yon pèp ki fini.

15 Si moun Izrayèl yo vle vire do ban mwen, mwen ta swete moun Jida yo pa fè menm jan an tou! Pa ale lavil Gilgal! Pa moute Betavenn pou fè sèvis! Pa pran non Bondye vivan an pou fè sèman!

16 Paske, moun Izrayèl yo gen tèt di pase milèt pòt. Ki jan pou Seyè a ka mennen yo al manje nan savann tankou ti mouton?

17 Moun Efrayim yo menm lage kò yo bay zidòl yo nèt. Kite yo pou kont yo!

18 Yo mete tèt yo ansanm ak yon bann gwògè. Yo lage kò yo nan fanm. Yo pito sa ki pou fè yo wont la pase sa ki pou ta fè moun respekte yo.

19 Yo pran nan yon move kouran. Y'a wont ofrann bèt y'ap fè pou touye pou zidòl yo.

¶ Koute sa byen, nou menm prèt yo! Pare zòrèy nou, nou menm pitit Izrayèl yo! Louvri zòrèy nou, nou menm ki fanmi wa a! Se nou menm y'ap jije koulye a. Nou tounen yon pyèj sou mòn Mispa. nou tounen yon pèlen yo mete sou mòn Tabò.

Moun k'ap fè mechanste yo al twò lwen. Se mwen menm k'ap pini yo tout.

Depi lontan mwen konnen moun Efrayim yo. Pou moun Izrayèl yo menm, nanpwen anyen sou yo mwen pa konnen. Moun Efrayim yo lage kò yo nan fè tankou jennès, yo kite m' pou lòt bondye. Moun Izrayèl yo menm mete tèt yo nan kondisyon yo pa ka fè sèvis pou mwen.

Avèk tou sa pèp la ap fè a, yo pa ka tounen vin jwenn Bondye yo a ankò. Yo pran nan sèvi zidòl. Yo pa konnen Seyè a ankò!

Sa pèp Izrayèl la ap fè nan awogans li, se sa k'ap lakòz yo kondannen l'. Avèk peche moun Izrayèl ak moun Efrayim yo ap plede fè yo, y'ap bite, y'ap tonbe. Menm moun peyi Jida yo ap bite ansanm ak yo tou.

Y'a pran mouton ak bèf pou fè ofrann pou Seyè a. Y'a chache l', men yo p'ap jwenn li, paske li wete kò l' sou yo.

Yo pa t' kenbe pawòl yo ak Seyè a, yo twonpe l'. Yo fè yon bann timoun ki pa janm konnen Bondye. Nan yon sèl mwa, Bondye ap detwi yo nèt ansanm ak tout jaden yo.

¶ Kònen klewon an lavil Gibeya! Sonnen avètisman an lavil Rama! Bay rèl lavil Betavenn pou moun yo pare pou lagè! Leve pye nou, moun Benjamen! Lènmi dèyè nou.

Jou pou yo pini moun Efrayim yo rive. Y'ap fini nèt avèk yo. M'ap kanpe nan mitan tout branch fanmi Izrayèl yo, m'ap fè yo konnen sa ki gen pou rive vre.

10 Seyè a di ankò: Chèf peyi Jida yo fè menm bagay ak moun k'ap deplase bòn pou antre sou tè moun. M'ap move sou yo, m'ap vare sou yo tankou lavalas k'ap desann!

11 Moun Efrayim yo ap soufri anba moun k'ap peze yo a. Yo pèdi tè ki pou yo dapre lalwa, paske yo te soti pou yo te swiv moun ki pa gen anyen pou bay.

12 M'ap fini ak moun Efrayim yo, m'ap manje yo tankou poudbwa manje bwa. M'ap disparèt moun peyi Jida yo, m'ap fè yo tounen pouriti.

13 Moun Efrayim yo wè jan peyi a te malad, moun Jida yo te wè eta malenng peyi a. Lè sa a, moun Izrayèl yo kouri al mande sekou nan peyi Lasiri, yo voye moun al mande gran wa a sekou. Men, gran wa sa a pa ka ban nou gerizon, ni li p'ap ka geri malenng nou yo.

14 M'ap atake moun Efrayim yo tankou yon lyon. M'ap tonbe sou moun Jida yo tankou yon jenn ti lyon. Wi, se mwen k'ap dechire yo an miyèt moso. Apre sa, m'ap kite yo, m'ap depòte yo byen lwen peyi yo. Pesonn p'ap ka sove yo anba men m'.

15 M'ap vire do m' tounen lakay mwen jouk y'a rekonèt fòt yo. Se lè sa a y'a chache m'. Wi, lè y'a wè jan y'ap soufri a, y'a mete chache m'.

¶ Pèp la di: -Annou wè non! Ann tounen al jwenn Seyè a! Se li menm ki blese nou, se li menm ankò ki ka geri nou! Se li ki mete san nou deyò, se li ki ka mete renmèd sou malenng nou yo.

Apre de jou, l'a ban nou lavi ankò. Sou twazyèm jou a, l'a fè nou kanpe ankò, n'a viv ankò devan je l'.

N'a konnen Seyè a, n'a toujou chache konnen Seyè a pi byen. Tankou nou sèten solèy la gen pou l' leve, konsa tou nou sèten n'ap jwenn li. Tankou nou sèten lapli gen pou l' wouze latè lè sezon l' rive, konsa tou nou sèten l'ap vin jwenn nou.

¶ Seyè a di: -Nou menm moun Efrayim, kisa pou m' fè ak nou? Nou menm moun Jida, kisa pou m' fè ak nou? Nou renmen m', se vre. Men se pou yon ti tan. Ou ta di yon ti nwaj ki pase anvan solèy leve. Wi, tankou lawouze ki disparèt anvan solèy fin leve.

Se poutèt sa mwen voye pwofèt mwen yo pou manyè pini nou. Mwen mete pawòl nan bouch yo ki ta kont pou touye nou. Mwen fè nou konnen sa mwen vle nou fè, mwen mete l' aklè devan nou.

Mwen ta pito wè nou renmen m' tout bon pase pou n'ap fè tout ofrann bèt sa yo ban mwen. Mwen ta pito wè nou chache konnen m' vre, mwen menm Bondye nou an, pase pou n'ap boule tout bèt sa yo pou mwen.

Men, yo menm, rive yo rive Adam, yo pa kenbe kontra mwen te pase ak yo a. Lamenm, yo vire do ban mwen, yo pa kenbe pawòl yo.

Galarad se yon lavil ki plen moun k'ap fè mechanste. Kote ou pase, se mak san moun yo touye.

Prèt yo menm, se tankou yon bann ansasen k'ap veye moun sou granchemen. Sou tout wout ki mennen lavil Sichèm, se touye y'ap touye moun. Yo konnen byen pwòp tou sa y'ap fè a mal. Atousa yo fè l'.

10 Mwen wè yo fè nan peyi Izrayèl la yon bagay ki fè m' tranble: Moun Efrayim yo lage kò yo nan sèvi zidòl. Moun Izrayèl yo ap fè bagay ki mete yo nan kondisyon yo pa ka fè sèvis pou mwen.

11 Men, pou nou menm tou, moun peyi Jida, mwen fikse yon jou pou pini nou pou tou sa nou fè, lè m'a fè moun yo depòte yo tounen nan peyi yo.

¶ Chak fwa mwen fè lide geri moun Izrayèl yo, sa ki parèt devan je mwen se move ajisman pitit Efrayim yo, se mechanste moun Samari yo. Yonn ap bay lòt manti, se kase kay moun pou vòlò. Nan lari, yo fè bann pou yo piye moun.

Men, yo pa janm mete nan tèt yo m'ap toujou chonje tou sa yo fè. Men, yo kanpe nan mitan tout mechanste yo la devan je mwen.

Nan mechanste yo, y'ap fè fèt pou wa a. Y'ap woule chèf yo, antan y'ap fè konplo.

Se yon bann trèt yo ye. Yo pa kenbe pawòl yo. Yo tankou yon fou yo fin chofe byen chofe. Boulanje a fè yo sispann chofe fou a, l'ap tann pat li fin bat la leve anvan li anfounen l'.

Konsa, jou y'ap fè fèt pou wa a, chèf yo malad anba diven, wa a menm bay lanmen ak ipokrit yo.

Wi, lè y'ap fè konplo se tankou yon fou k'ap chofe. Tout lannwit, chalè a ap moute. Sa yo gen sou kè yo a ap kouve. Nan maten, bagay la pete tankou flanm dife.

Yo gen yon chalè k'ap soti sou yo, cho tankou yon fou byen chofe. Yo devore moun k'ap gouvènen yo. Wa yo tonbe yonn apre lòt. Pa gen yon moun ki rele m' mande sekou.

¶ Moun Efrayim yo pa pi bon pase yon pen ki kwit yon sèl bò. Yo pèdi valè yo. Moun Efrayim yo melanje ak moun lòt nasyon ki toupatou bò kote yo.

Moun lòt nasyon yo fin souse tout fòs yo. Yo menm yo pa konn sa. Yo gen tan fini, yo prèt pou mouri tankou vye granmoun cheve blan, yo pa menm wè sa.

10 Se awogans moun Izrayèl yo k'ap fè yo kondannen yo. Men, malgre tou sa ki rive yo, yo pa tounen vin jwenn mwen, mwen menm Seyè a, Bondye yo a. Yo pa chache kote m' ye.

11 Moun Efrayim yo fin egare, yo tankou pijon ki pèdi bann yo, yo pa konn sa y'ap fè. Yon lè, se Lejip yo rele vin ede yo. Yon lòt lè, yo kouri al jwenn moun peyi Lasiri yo.

12 Men, antan yo prale konsa, mwen pare yon pèlen pou yo, mwen pran yo tankou zwazo k'ap vole nan syèl. M'ap pini yo pou mechanste yo fè yo.

13 Madichon pou yo! Yo kouri vire do ban mwen. Y'ap fini nèt. Yo pa kenbe pawòl yo ak mwen. Yo leve dèyè mwen. Mwen te vle sove yo, men y'ap fè manti sou mwen.

14 Lè yo kouche sou kabann yo ap plenn, yo pa lapriyè m' ak tout kè yo. Lè yo bezwen farin ak diven, y'ap kòche kò yo ak kouto tankou moun lòt nasyon yo, yo trayi m'.

15 Atout se mwen menm ki te mennen yo, ki te ba yo fòs, yo fè konplo sou mwen.

16 Yo vire do ban mwen pou y' al dèyè lòt bondye. Yo tankou yon banza ki pa ka sèvi ankò. Chèf yo ap pale ak twòp awogans. Se poutèt sa, yo pral mouri nan lagè. Lè sa a, moun peyi Lejip yo pral pase yo nan kont rizib yo.

The word of the Lord that came(A) to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah,(B) Jotham,(C) Ahaz(D) and Hezekiah,(E) kings of Judah,(F) and during the reign of Jeroboam(G) son of Jehoash[a] king of Israel:(H)

Hosea’s Wife and Children

When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous(I) woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness(J) to the Lord.” So he married Gomer(K) daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel,(L) because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.(M)

Gomer(N) conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”),(O) for I will no longer show love to Israel,(P) that I should at all forgive them. Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow,(Q) sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God,(R) will save them.”

After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah,(S) Gomer had another son. Then the Lord said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God.[b](T)

10 “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted.(U) In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’(V) 11 The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together;(W) they will appoint one leader(X) and will come up out of the land,(Y) for great will be the day of Jezreel.[c](Z)

[d]“Say of your brothers, ‘My people,’ and of your sisters, ‘My loved one.’(AA)

Israel Punished and Restored

“Rebuke your mother,(AB) rebuke her,
    for she is not my wife,
    and I am not her husband.
Let her remove the adulterous(AC) look from her face
    and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts.
Otherwise I will strip(AD) her naked
    and make her as bare as on the day she was born;(AE)
I will make her like a desert,(AF)
    turn her into a parched land,
    and slay her with thirst.
I will not show my love to her children,(AG)
    because they are the children of adultery.(AH)
Their mother has been unfaithful
    and has conceived them in disgrace.
She said, ‘I will go after my lovers,(AI)
    who give me my food and my water,
    my wool and my linen, my olive oil and my drink.’(AJ)
Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes;
    I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.(AK)
She will chase after her lovers but not catch them;
    she will look for them but not find them.(AL)
Then she will say,
    ‘I will go back to my husband(AM) as at first,(AN)
    for then I was better off(AO) than now.’
She has not acknowledged(AP) that I was the one
    who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil,(AQ)
who lavished on her the silver and gold(AR)
    which they used for Baal.(AS)

“Therefore I will take away my grain(AT) when it ripens,
    and my new wine(AU) when it is ready.
I will take back my wool and my linen,
    intended to cover her naked body.
10 So now I will expose(AV) her lewdness
    before the eyes of her lovers;(AW)
    no one will take her out of my hands.(AX)
11 I will stop(AY) all her celebrations:(AZ)
    her yearly festivals, her New Moons,
    her Sabbath days—all her appointed festivals.(BA)
12 I will ruin her vines(BB) and her fig trees,(BC)
    which she said were her pay from her lovers;(BD)
I will make them a thicket,(BE)
    and wild animals will devour them.(BF)
13 I will punish her for the days
    she burned incense(BG) to the Baals;(BH)
she decked herself with rings and jewelry,(BI)
    and went after her lovers,(BJ)
    but me she forgot,(BK)
declares the Lord.(BL)

14 “Therefore I am now going to allure her;
    I will lead her into the wilderness(BM)
    and speak tenderly to her.
15 There I will give her back her vineyards,
    and will make the Valley of Achor[e](BN) a door of hope.
There she will respond[f](BO) as in the days of her youth,(BP)
    as in the day she came up out of Egypt.(BQ)

16 “In that day,” declares the Lord,
    “you will call me ‘my husband’;(BR)
    you will no longer call me ‘my master.[g]
17 I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips;(BS)
    no longer will their names be invoked.(BT)
18 In that day I will make a covenant for them
    with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
    and the creatures that move along the ground.(BU)
Bow and sword and battle
    I will abolish(BV) from the land,
    so that all may lie down in safety.(BW)
19 I will betroth(BX) you to me forever;
    I will betroth you in[h] righteousness and justice,(BY)
    in[i] love and compassion.(BZ)
20 I will betroth you in[j] faithfulness,
    and you will acknowledge(CA) the Lord.(CB)

21 “In that day I will respond,”
    declares the Lord
“I will respond(CC) to the skies,
    and they will respond to the earth;
22 and the earth will respond to the grain,
    the new wine and the olive oil,(CD)
    and they will respond to Jezreel.[k](CE)
23 I will plant(CF) her for myself in the land;
    I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.[l](CG)
I will say to those called ‘Not my people,[m]’ ‘You are my people’;(CH)
    and they will say, ‘You are my God.(CI)’”

Hosea’s Reconciliation With His Wife

The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress.(CJ) Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.(CK)

So I bought her for fifteen shekels[n] of silver and about a homer and a lethek[o] of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.”

For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince,(CL) without sacrifice(CM) or sacred stones,(CN) without ephod(CO) or household gods.(CP) Afterward the Israelites will return and seek(CQ) the Lord their God and David their king.(CR) They will come trembling(CS) to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.(CT)

The Charge Against Israel

Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites,
    because the Lord has a charge(CU) to bring
    against you who live in the land:(CV)
“There is no faithfulness,(CW) no love,
    no acknowledgment(CX) of God in the land.(CY)
There is only cursing,[p] lying(CZ) and murder,(DA)
    stealing(DB) and adultery;(DC)
they break all bounds,
    and bloodshed follows bloodshed.(DD)
Because of this the land dries up,(DE)
    and all who live in it waste away;(DF)
the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
    and the fish in the sea are swept away.(DG)

“But let no one bring a charge,
    let no one accuse another,
for your people are like those
    who bring charges against a priest.(DH)
You stumble(DI) day and night,
    and the prophets stumble with you.
So I will destroy your mother(DJ)
    my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.(DK)

“Because you have rejected knowledge,
    I also reject you as my priests;
because you have ignored the law(DL) of your God,
    I also will ignore your children.
The more priests there were,
    the more they sinned against me;
    they exchanged their glorious God[q](DM) for something disgraceful.(DN)
They feed on the sins of my people
    and relish their wickedness.(DO)
And it will be: Like people, like priests.(DP)
    I will punish both of them for their ways
    and repay them for their deeds.(DQ)

10 “They will eat but not have enough;(DR)
    they will engage in prostitution(DS) but not flourish,
because they have deserted(DT) the Lord
    to give themselves 11 to prostitution;(DU)
old wine(DV) and new wine
    take away their understanding.(DW)
12 My people consult a wooden idol,(DX)
    and a diviner’s rod speaks to them.(DY)
A spirit of prostitution(DZ) leads them astray;(EA)
    they are unfaithful(EB) to their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops
    and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak,(EC) poplar and terebinth,
    where the shade is pleasant.(ED)
Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution(EE)
    and your daughters-in-law to adultery.(EF)

14 “I will not punish your daughters
    when they turn to prostitution,
nor your daughters-in-law
    when they commit adultery,
because the men themselves consort with harlots(EG)
    and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes(EH)
    a people without understanding(EI) will come to ruin!(EJ)

15 “Though you, Israel, commit adultery,
    do not let Judah become guilty.

“Do not go to Gilgal;(EK)
    do not go up to Beth Aven.[r](EL)
    And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’(EM)
16 The Israelites are stubborn,(EN)
    like a stubborn heifer.(EO)
How then can the Lord pasture them
    like lambs(EP) in a meadow?
17 Ephraim is joined to idols;
    leave him alone!
18 Even when their drinks are gone,
    they continue their prostitution;
    their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
19 A whirlwind(EQ) will sweep them away,
    and their sacrifices will bring them shame.(ER)

Judgment Against Israel

“Hear this, you priests!
    Pay attention, you Israelites!
Listen, royal house!
    This judgment(ES) is against you:
You have been a snare(ET) at Mizpah,
    a net(EU) spread out on Tabor.
The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter.(EV)
    I will discipline all of them.(EW)
I know all about Ephraim;
    Israel is not hidden(EX) from me.
Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution;
    Israel is corrupt.(EY)

“Their deeds do not permit them
    to return(EZ) to their God.
A spirit of prostitution(FA) is in their heart;
    they do not acknowledge(FB) the Lord.
Israel’s arrogance testifies(FC) against them;
    the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble(FD) in their sin;
    Judah also stumbles with them.(FE)
When they go with their flocks and herds
    to seek the Lord,(FF)
they will not find him;
    he has withdrawn(FG) himself from them.
They are unfaithful(FH) to the Lord;
    they give birth to illegitimate(FI) children.
When they celebrate their New Moon feasts,(FJ)
    he will devour[s](FK) their fields.

“Sound the trumpet(FL) in Gibeah,(FM)
    the horn in Ramah.(FN)
Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven[t];(FO)
    lead on, Benjamin.
Ephraim will be laid waste(FP)
    on the day of reckoning.(FQ)
Among the tribes of Israel
    I proclaim what is certain.(FR)
10 Judah’s leaders are like those
    who move boundary stones.(FS)
I will pour out my wrath(FT) on them
    like a flood of water.
11 Ephraim is oppressed,
    trampled in judgment,
    intent on pursuing idols.[u](FU)
12 I am like a moth(FV) to Ephraim,
    like rot(FW) to the people of Judah.

13 “When Ephraim(FX) saw his sickness,
    and Judah his sores,
then Ephraim turned to Assyria,(FY)
    and sent to the great king for help.(FZ)
But he is not able to cure(GA) you,
    not able to heal your sores.(GB)
14 For I will be like a lion(GC) to Ephraim,
    like a great lion to Judah.
I will tear them to pieces(GD) and go away;
    I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.(GE)
15 Then I will return to my lair(GF)
    until they have borne their guilt(GG)
    and seek my face(GH)
in their misery(GI)
    they will earnestly seek me.(GJ)

Israel Unrepentant

“Come, let us return(GK) to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces(GL)
    but he will heal us;(GM)
he has injured us
    but he will bind up our wounds.(GN)
After two days he will revive us;(GO)
    on the third day(GP) he will restore(GQ) us,
    that we may live in his presence.
Let us acknowledge the Lord;
    let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
    he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,(GR)
    like the spring rains that water the earth.(GS)

“What can I do with you, Ephraim?(GT)
    What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
    like the early dew that disappears.(GU)
Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
    I killed you with the words of my mouth(GV)
    then my judgments go forth like the sun.[v](GW)
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,(GX)
    and acknowledgment(GY) of God rather than burnt offerings.(GZ)
As at Adam,[w] they have broken the covenant;(HA)
    they were unfaithful(HB) to me there.
Gilead is a city of evildoers,(HC)
    stained with footprints of blood.
As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,(HD)
    so do bands of priests;
they murder(HE) on the road to Shechem,
    carrying out their wicked schemes.(HF)
10 I have seen a horrible(HG) thing in Israel:
    There Ephraim is given to prostitution,
    Israel is defiled.(HH)

11 “Also for you, Judah,
    a harvest(HI) is appointed.

“Whenever I would restore the fortunes(HJ) of my people,

whenever I would heal Israel,
the sins of Ephraim are exposed
    and the crimes of Samaria revealed.(HK)
They practice deceit,(HL)
    thieves break into houses,(HM)
    bandits rob in the streets;(HN)
but they do not realize
    that I remember(HO) all their evil deeds.(HP)
Their sins engulf them;(HQ)
    they are always before me.

“They delight the king with their wickedness,
    the princes with their lies.(HR)
They are all adulterers,(HS)
    burning like an oven
whose fire the baker need not stir
    from the kneading of the dough till it rises.
On the day of the festival of our king
    the princes become inflamed with wine,(HT)
    and he joins hands with the mockers.(HU)
Their hearts are like an oven;(HV)
    they approach him with intrigue.
Their passion smolders all night;
    in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
All of them are hot as an oven;
    they devour their rulers.
All their kings fall,(HW)
    and none of them calls(HX) on me.

“Ephraim mixes(HY) with the nations;
    Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over.
Foreigners sap his strength,(HZ)
    but he does not realize it.
His hair is sprinkled with gray,
    but he does not notice.
10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against him,(IA)
    but despite all this
he does not return(IB) to the Lord his God
    or search(IC) for him.

11 “Ephraim is like a dove,(ID)
    easily deceived and senseless—
now calling to Egypt,(IE)
    now turning to Assyria.(IF)
12 When they go, I will throw my net(IG) over them;
    I will pull them down like the birds in the sky.
When I hear them flocking together,
    I will catch them.
13 Woe(IH) to them,
    because they have strayed(II) from me!
Destruction to them,
    because they have rebelled against me!
I long to redeem them
    but they speak about me(IJ) falsely.(IK)
14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts(IL)
    but wail on their beds.
They slash themselves,[x] appealing to their gods
    for grain and new wine,(IM)
    but they turn away from me.(IN)
15 I trained(IO) them and strengthened their arms,
    but they plot evil(IP) against me.
16 They do not turn to the Most High;(IQ)
    they are like a faulty bow.(IR)
Their leaders will fall by the sword
    because of their insolent(IS) words.
For this they will be ridiculed(IT)
    in the land of Egypt.(IU)

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 1:1 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash
  2. Hosea 1:9 Or your I am
  3. Hosea 1:11 In Hebrew texts 1:10,11 is numbered 2:1,2.
  4. Hosea 2:1 In Hebrew texts 2:1-23 is numbered 2:3-25.
  5. Hosea 2:15 Achor means trouble.
  6. Hosea 2:15 Or sing
  7. Hosea 2:16 Hebrew baal
  8. Hosea 2:19 Or with
  9. Hosea 2:19 Or with
  10. Hosea 2:20 Or with
  11. Hosea 2:22 Jezreel means God plants.
  12. Hosea 2:23 Hebrew Lo-Ruhamah (see 1:6)
  13. Hosea 2:23 Hebrew Lo-Ammi (see 1:9)
  14. Hosea 3:2 That is, about 6 ounces or about 170 grams
  15. Hosea 3:2 A homer and a lethek possibly weighed about 430 pounds or about 195 kilograms.
  16. Hosea 4:2 That is, to pronounce a curse on
  17. Hosea 4:7 Syriac (see also an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition); Masoretic Text me; / I will exchange their glory
  18. Hosea 4:15 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).
  19. Hosea 5:7 Or Now their New Moon feasts / will devour them and
  20. Hosea 5:8 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).
  21. Hosea 5:11 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  22. Hosea 6:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
  23. Hosea 6:7 Or Like Adam; or Like human beings
  24. Hosea 7:14 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts They gather together