Hosea 9:10–11:11

10  I found Israel as grapes in the wilderness; as first-ripe fruit on the fig-tree, I saw your fathers at the beginning: they went to Baal-Peor, and separated themselves unto that shame, and became abominations like their lover.

11  As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away as a bird, —no birth, no pregnancy, no conception! 12  For even should they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that not a man remain: for woe also to them when I shall have departed from them! 13  Ephraim, as I saw him, was a Tyre planted in a beautiful place; but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the slayer. 14  Give them, Jehovah—what wilt thou 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 doings, I will drive them out of my house, I will love them no more: all their princes are rebellious. 16  Ephraim is smitten: their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit; yea, though they should bring forth, yet will I slay the beloved fruit of their womb. 17  My God hath rejected them, because they hearkened not unto him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Chapter 10

1  Israel is an unpruned vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly statues. 2  Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will break down their altars, he will destroy their statues. 3  For now they will say, We have no king, for we feared not Jehovah; and a king, what can he do for us? 4  They speak mere words, swearing falsely in making a covenant; therefore shall judgment spring up as hemlock in the furrows of the fields. 5  The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calf of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the idolatrous priests thereof shall tremble for it, for its glory, because it is departed from it. 6  Yea, it shall be carried unto Assyria as a present for king Jareb: Ephraim shall be seized with shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. 7  As for Samaria her king is cut off as chips upon the face of the waters. 8  And the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up upon their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us! and to the hills, Fall on us!

9  From the days of Gibeah hast thou sinned, O Israel: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them. 10  At my pleasure will I chastise them; and the peoples shall be assembled against them, when they are bound for their two iniquities. 11  And Ephraim is a trained heifer, that loveth to tread out the corn; I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to draw; Judah shall plough, Jacob shall break his clods. 12  Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13  Ye have ploughed wickedness, reaped iniquity, eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst confide in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. 14  And a tumult shall arise among thy peoples, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with the children. 15  So shall Bethel do unto you because of the wickedness of your wickedness: at day-break shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

Chapter 11

1  When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2  As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto the Baals, and burned incense to graven images. 3  And I it was that taught Ephraim to walk, —He took them upon his arms, —but they knew not that I healed them. 4  I drew them with bands of a man, with cords of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I gently caused them to eat. 5  He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king; for they refused to return to me; 6  and the sword shall turn about in his cities, and shall consume his bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels. 7  Yea, my people are bent upon backsliding from me: though they call them to the Most High, none at all exalteth him.

8  How shall I give thee over, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee up, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? My heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. 9  I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am •God, and not man, —the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not come in anger. 10  They shall walk after Jehovah; he shall roar like a lion; when he shall roar, then the children shall hasten from the west: 11  they shall hasten as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will cause them to dwell in their houses, saith Jehovah.