1O Israel, do not rejoice jubilantly like the nations, for you are unfaithful to your God. You love to receive a prostitute\'s wages on all the floors where you thresh your grain. | 1O Israel, do not rejoice jubilantly like the nations, for you are unfaithful to your God. You love to receive a prostitute\'s wages on all the floors where you thresh your grain. |
2Threshing floors and wine vats will not feed the people, and new wine only deceives them. | 2Threshing floors and wine vats will not feed the people, and new wine only deceives them. |
3They will not remain in the LORD's land. Ephraim will return to Egypt; they will eat ritually unclean food in Assyria. | 3They will not remain in the LORD's land. Ephraim will return to Egypt; they will eat ritually unclean food in Assyria. |
4They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the LORD; they will not please him with their sacrifices. Their sacrifices will be like bread eaten while in mourning; all those who eat them will make themselves ritually unclean. For their bread will be only to satisfy their appetite; it will not come into the temple of the LORD. | 4They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the LORD; they will not please him with their sacrifices. Their sacrifices will be like bread eaten while in mourning; all those who eat them will make themselves ritually unclean. For their bread will be only to satisfy their appetite; it will not come into the temple of the LORD. |
5So what will you do on the festival day, on the festival days of the LORD? | 5So what will you do on the festival day, on the festival days of the LORD? |
6Look! Even if they flee from the destruction, Egypt will take hold of them, and Memphis will bury them. The weeds will inherit the silver they treasure--thorn bushes will occupy their homes. | 6Look! Even if they flee from the destruction, Egypt will take hold of them, and Memphis will bury them. The weeds will inherit the silver they treasure--thorn bushes will occupy their homes. |
7The time of judgment is about to arrive! The time of retribution is imminent! Let Israel know! Israel Rejects Hosea's Prophetic Exhortations The prophet is considered a fool--the inspired man is viewed as a madman--because of the multitude of your sins and your intense animosity. | 7The time of judgment is about to arrive! The time of retribution is imminent! Let Israel know! Israel Rejects Hosea's Prophetic Exhortations The prophet is considered a fool--the inspired man is viewed as a madman--because of the multitude of your sins and your intense animosity. |
8The prophet is a watchman over Ephraim on behalf of God, yet traps are laid for him along all of his paths; animosity rages against him in the land of his God. | 8The prophet is a watchman over Ephraim on behalf of God, yet traps are laid for him along all of his paths; animosity rages against him in the land of his God. |
9They have sunk deep into corruption as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their wrongdoing. He will repay them for their sins. | 9They have sunk deep into corruption as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their wrongdoing. He will repay them for their sins. |
10When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the wilderness. I viewed your ancestors like an early fig on a fig tree in its first season. Then they came to Baal-Peor and they dedicated themselves to shame--they became as detestable as what they loved. | 10When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the wilderness. I viewed your ancestors like an early fig on a fig tree in its first season. Then they came to Baal-Peor and they dedicated themselves to shame--they became as detestable as what they loved. |
11Ephraim will be like a bird; what they value will fly away. They will not bear children--they will not enjoy pregnancy--they will not even conceive! | 11Ephraim will be like a bird; what they value will fly away. They will not bear children--they will not enjoy pregnancy--they will not even conceive! |
12Even if they raise their children, I will take away every last one of them. Woe to them! For I will turn away from them. | 12Even if they raise their children, I will take away every last one of them. Woe to them! For I will turn away from them. |
13Just as lion cubs are born predators, so Ephraim will bear his sons for slaughter. | 13Just as lion cubs are born predators, so Ephraim will bear his sons for slaughter. |
14Give them, O LORD--what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry, and breasts that cannot nurse! | 14Give them, O LORD--what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry, and breasts that cannot nurse! |
15Because of all their evil in Gilgal, I hate them there. On account of their evil deeds, I will drive them out of my land. I will no longer love them; all their rulers are rebels. | 15Because of all their evil in Gilgal, I hate them there. On account of their evil deeds, I will drive them out of my land. I will no longer love them; all their rulers are rebels. |
16Ephraim will be struck down--their root will be dried up; they will not yield any fruit. Even if they do bear children, I will kill their precious offspring. | 16Ephraim will be struck down--their root will be dried up; they will not yield any fruit. Even if they do bear children, I will kill their precious offspring. |
17My God will reject them, for they have not obeyed him; so they will be fugitives among the nations. | 17My God will reject them, for they have not obeyed him; so they will be fugitives among the nations. |
|
|