Hosea 9:10–16

¹⁰Like the grapes in the wilderness,

I found Israel.

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

I saw your ancestors.^f

They themselves came to Baal Peor,

and they consecrated themselves to shame.

And they became detestable things,

like the thing they love.^g

¹¹Ephraim’s glory is like a bird;

it will fly away—

no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception.

¹²Even though they bring up their children,

I will bereave them before maturity.^h

Woe to them indeed,

when I depart from them!

¹³Ephraim, as I see it,

is like a palm in a meadow;

but Ephraim must bring out

his children to the slayer.

¹⁴Give them, O Yahweh—

what will you give them?

Give them a miscarrying womb

and dry breasts.

¹⁵Every 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.

¹⁶Ephraim 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.