Hosea 9:10–16

¹⁰The Lord says,

“When I first found Israel,

it was like finding grapes in the desert.

When I saw your people long ago,

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

But then they went to Baal Peor.

There they gave themselves to that shameful god Baal.

They became as evil as the god they loved.

¹¹Ephraim’s greatness and glory will be gone.

It will fly away like a bird.

Women will no longer have children.

They will not be able to get pregnant.

¹²But suppose they do have children.

Then I will kill every one of them.

How terrible it will be for them

when I turn away from them!”

¹³Tyre is planted in a pleasant place.

And so is Ephraim.

But the Assyrians will kill

Ephraim’s children.

¹⁴Lord, what should you do to Ephraim’s people?

Give them women whose babies die before they are born.

Give them women whose breasts don’t have any milk.

¹⁵The Lord says,

“My people did many evil things in Gilgal.

That is why I hated them there.

They committed many sins.

So I will drive them out of my land.

I will not love them anymore.

All of their leaders refuse to obey me.

¹⁶Ephraim is like a worthless plant.

Its roots are dried up.

It does not produce any fruit.

Suppose Ephraim’s people have children.

Then I will kill the children they love so much.”