This Whole Country Has Become a Whorehouse

2  The first time God spoke to Hosea he said:

“Find a whore and marry her.

Make this whore the mother of your children.

And here’s why: This whole country

has become a whorehouse, unfaithful to me, God.”

3  Hosea did it. He picked Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She got pregnant and gave him a son.

4–5  Then God told him:

“Name him Jezreel. It won’t be long now before

I’ll make the people of Israel pay for the massacre at Jezreel.

I’m calling it quits on the kingdom of Israel.

Payday is coming! I’m going to chop Israel’s bows and arrows

into kindling in the valley of Jezreel.”

6–7  Gomer got pregnant again. This time she had a daughter. God told Hosea:

“Name this one No-Mercy. I’m fed up with Israel.

I’ve run out of mercy. There’s no more forgiveness.

Judah’s another story. I’ll continue having mercy on them.

I’ll save them. It will be their God who saves them,

Not their armaments and armies,

not their horsepower and manpower.”

8–9  After Gomer had weaned No-Mercy, she got pregnant yet again and had a son. God said:

“Name him Nobody. You’ve become nobodies to me,

and I, God, am a nobody to you.