Hosea 9:10–16

“When I found Israel,

it was like finding grapes in the desert;

when I saw your ancestors,

it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.

But when they came to Baal Peor,

they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol

and became as vile as the thing they loved.

Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird—

no birth, no pregnancy, no conception.

Even if they rear children,

I will bereave them of every one.

Woe to them

when I turn away from them!

I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre,

planted in a pleasant place.

But Ephraim will bring out

their children to the slayer.”

Give them, Lord—

what will you give them?

Give them wombs that miscarry

and breasts that are dry.

“Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal,

I hated them there.

Because of their sinful deeds,

I will drive them out of my house.

I will no longer love them;

all their leaders are rebellious.

Ephraim is blighted,

their root is withered,

they yield no fruit.

Even if they bear children,

I will slay their cherished offspring.”

I discovered Israel

like grapes in the wilderness.

I saw your ancestors

like the first fruit of the fig tree in its first season.

But they went to Baal-peor,

consecrated themselves to Shame,

and became abhorrent,

like the thing they loved.

Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird:

no birth, no pregnancy, no conception.

Even if they raise children,

I will bereave them of each one.

Yes, woe to them when I depart from them!

I have seen Ephraim like Tyre,

planted in a meadow,

so Ephraim will bring out his children

to the executioner.

Give them, Lord—

What should you give?

Give them a womb that miscarries

and breasts that are dry!

All their evil appears at Gilgal,

for there I began to hate them.

I will drive them from my house

because of their evil, wicked actions.

I will no longer love them;

all their leaders are rebellious.

Ephraim is struck down;

their roots are withered;

they cannot bear fruit.

Even if they bear children,

I will kill the precious offspring of their wombs.

The Lord says, “O Israel, when I first found you,

it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert.

When I saw your ancestors,

it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season.

But then they deserted me for Baal-peor,

giving themselves to that shameful idol.

Soon they became vile,

as vile as the god they worshiped.

The glory of Israel will fly away like a bird,

for your children will not be born

or grow in the womb

or even be conceived.

Even if you do have children who grow up,

I will take them from you.

It will be a terrible day when I turn away

and leave you alone.

I have watched Israel become as beautiful as Tyre.

But now Israel will bring out her children for slaughter.”

O Lord, what should I request for your people?

I will ask for wombs that don’t give birth

and breasts that give no milk.

The Lord says, “All their wickedness began at Gilgal;

there I began to hate them.

I will drive them from my land

because of their evil actions.

I will love them no more

because all their leaders are rebels.

The people of Israel are struck down.

Their roots are dried up,

and they will bear no more fruit.

And if they give birth,

I will slaughter their beloved children.”

Like the grapes in the wilderness,

I found Israel.

Like early ripened fruit on the fig tree in the first season,

I saw your ancestors.

They themselves came to Baal Peor,

and they consecrated themselves to shame.

And they became detestable things,

like the thing they love.

Ephraim’s glory is like a bird;

it will fly away—

no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception.

Even though they bring up their children,

I will bereave them before maturity.

Woe to them indeed,

when I depart from them!

Ephraim, as I see it,

is like a palm in a meadow;

but Ephraim must bring out

his children to the slayer.

Give them, O Yahweh—

what will you give them?

Give them a miscarrying womb

and dry breasts.

Every evil of theirs began at Gilgal,

so I began to hate them there;

because of the evil of their deeds

I will drive them out from my house.

I will love them no more;

all their officials are rebels.

Ephraim is stricken,

their root is dried up,

they shall not bear fruit.

Even if they give birth,

I will kill the cherished offspring of their womb.

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness;

I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time:

But they went to Baal-peor, and separated themselves unto that shame;

And their abominations were according as they loved.

As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird,

From the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.

Though they bring up their children,

Yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left:

Yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!

Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place:

But Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.

Give them, O Lord: what wilt thou give?

Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them:

For the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house,

I will love them no more:

All their princes are revolters.

Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit:

Yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.