Hosea 3–5

1Yahweh said to me, “Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins.”

2So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley.

3I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days. You shall not play the prostitute, and you shall not be with any other man. I will also be so toward you.”

4For the children of Israel shall live many days without king, without prince, without sacrifice, without sacred stone, and without ephod or idols.

5Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek Yahweh their God, and David their king, and shall come with trembling to Yahweh and to his blessings in the last days.

1Hear Yahweh’s word, you children of Israel, for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.

2There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.

3Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells in it will waste away, with all living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die.

4“Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.

5You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.

6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s law, I will also forget your children.

7As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame.

8They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.

9It will be like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds.

10They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned listening to Yahweh.

11Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

12My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God.

13They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery.

14I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin.

15“Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don’t let Judah offend; and don’t come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, ‘As Yahweh lives.’

16For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow?

17Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!

18Their drink has become sour. They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.

19The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices.

1“Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, and give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor.

2The rebels are deep in slaughter, but I discipline all of them.

3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, Ephraim, you have played the prostitute. Israel is defiled.

4Their deeds won’t allow them to turn to their God, for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they don’t know Yahweh.

5The pride of Israel testifies to his face. Therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them.

6They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Yahweh, but they won’t find him. He has withdrawn himself from them.

7They are unfaithful to Yahweh; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields.

8“Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin!

9Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel, I have made known that which will surely be.

10The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water.

11Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment, because he is intent in his pursuit of idols.

12Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness.

13“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to King Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.

14For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver.

15I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.”