Hosea 9:10–11:11

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 unto the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved. 11As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird: there shall be no birth, and none with child, and no conception. 12Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, so that not a man shall be left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them! 13Ephraim, like as I have seen Tyre, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring out his children to the slayer. 14Give them, O Jehovah—what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. 15All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them: because of the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of my house; I will love them no more; all their princes are revolters. 16Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay the beloved fruit of their womb. 17My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

10 Israel is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars. 2Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their pillars. 3Surely now shall they say, We have no king; for we fear not Jehovah; and the king, what can he do for us?

4They speak vain words, swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. 5The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. 6It also, shall be carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. 7As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as foam upon the water. 8The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

9O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood; the battle against the children of iniquity doth not overtake them in Gibeah. 10When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions. 11And Ephraim is a heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the grain; but I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.

12Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. 14Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with her children. 15So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.

11 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 2The more the prophets called them, the more they went from them: they sacrificed unto the Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. 3Yet I taught Ephraim to walk; I took them on my arms; but they knew not that I healed them. 4I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that lift up the yoke on their jaws; and I laid food before them.

5They shall not return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be their king, because they refused to return to me. 6And the sword shall fall upon their cities, and shall consume their bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels. 7And my people are bent on backsliding from me: though they call them to him that is on high, none at all will exalt him.

8How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I cast thee off, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboiim? my heart is turned within me, my compassions are kindled together. 9I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee; and I will not come in wrath. 10They shall walk after Jehovah, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children shall come trembling from the west. 11They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will make them to dwell in their houses, saith Jehovah.