- When Uzziah—Hezekiah reigned, the Lord came to Hosea in Israel. Hosea is to take the harlot Gomer for a wife as the land has committed whoredom. He has a son Jezreel (where I will break Israel’s bow), a daughter Loruhamah (no mercy on Israel) and a son Loami (not my people). #Ho1
- The Lord tells Hosea a love poem of Israel as an adulterous woman chasing lovers. She is returned to her ways by confinement without food. After punishment, I will allure her. She will call me My husband, not my Lord. I will betroth you in love. You will say, You are my God. #Ho2
- The Lord tells Hosea to love an adulteress, who is purchased for 15 pieces of silver and a core of barley. She is to wait and not play the harlot. So also for the return of the children of Israel who worship other gods and love raisin cakes. #Ho3
- The land is filled with iniquity. You burn incense in high places under oak & terebinth. Your daughters are whores & your sons sacrifice with harlots. Because you rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests. Israel is a backsliding heifer; Judah, go not to Gilgal. #Ho4
- Israel, a spirit of prostitution is in your heart. Even Ephraim stumbles in sin, pursuing idols. Very well, I will be the moth of Ephraim, the canker of the house of Judah. I will be a lion to Ephraim & tear him to pieces & go my way until they seek me in their misery. #Ho5
- Let us return to the Lord—after 2 days he will revive us; on the 3rd day raise us up. We shall live in his sight. He shall come to us as rain. The goodness of Ephraim and Judah goes away like the dew. I desire mercy, not sacrifice, knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. #Ho6
- Ephraim is a cake unturned, a dove calling this time to Egypt, now to Assyria. They are all adulterers with hearts like ovens that burn hot in the morning. Strangers have taken his strength & left him gray-haired. I will chastise them until they cry unto me with their heart. #Ho7
- The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces. They have sown the wind & shall reap the whirlwind. Ephraim made altars to sin & for sinning. Israel forgot his Maker & built palaces; Judah has fortified his cities. But I will send a fire on the cities to devour the palaces. #Ho8
- Do not rejoice, Israel, or make wine offerings. The days of visitation and recompense are come. The watchman of Ephraim was with my God. Even if they rear children, I will bereave them of every one, that there not be a man left. Corrupt as in Gibeah; wicked as in Gilgal. #Ho9
- Israel is an empty vine, their heart divided. Samaria fears the calves of Bethaven. The high places shall be destroyed. O Israel, you sinned from the days of Gibeah; Ephraim is a heifer to ride, Judah is one to plow. You have plowed wickedness, reaped iniquity & eaten lies. #Ho10
- When Israel was a child, I loved him & called him out of Egypt. But they sacrificed to Baal & burned incense. I drew them with bands of love, but they are bent to backsliding. I shall not destroy Ephraim. They shall tremble as a bird from Egypt or a dove out of Assyria. #Ho11
- Ephraim feeds on wind & follows the east wind. Turn to God: he is a merchant; the balances of deceit are in his hand. Is there iniquity in Gilead? Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Ephraim provoked Israel to anger. The Lord will repay his contempt. #Ho12
- When Ephraim spoke, people trembled. But he worshipped Baal & kissed calf-idols. They offered human sacrifice. Therefore they shall be as the early morning dew. O death, I will be your plague & destruction. Samaria will become desolate because she has rebelled against God. #Ho13
- O Israel, return to the Lord. Take away our sins & receive us graciously. We render the fruit of our lips. Be the dew unto Israel. Your branches shall spread, & those who nest under it will revive & grow in the scent of a cedar of Lebanon. Walk in the way of the Lord. #Ho14