Hosea 3–5

1Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.”

2So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.

3Then I said to her, “You must live with me for many days; you must not be promiscuous or belong to another, and I will do the same for you.”

4For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol.

5Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.

1Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land!

2Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.

3Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.

4But let no man contend; let no man offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend with a priest.

5You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your mother—

6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

7The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.

8They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity.

9And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.

10They will eat but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have abandoned the LORD to give themselves

11to promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which take away understanding.

12My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God.

13They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.

14I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.

15Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’

16For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?

17Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!

18When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace.

19The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.

1“Hear this, O priests! Take heed, O house of Israel! Give ear, O royal house! For this judgment is against you because you have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.

2The rebels are deep in slaughter; but I will chastise them all.

3I know all about Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me. For now, O Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution; Israel is defiled.

4Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God, for a spirit of prostitution is within them, and they do not know the LORD.

5Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; even Judah stumbles with them.

6They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them.

7They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land.

8Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin!

9Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.

10The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary stones; I will pour out My fury upon them like water.

11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.

12So I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like decay to the house of Judah.

13When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.

14For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and then go away. I will carry them off where no one can rescue them.

15Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”