\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Hosea}
{\MT Hosea

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH Introduction
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}The
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
message
to
Hosea
son
of
Beeri
during
the
reigns
of
Kings
Uzziah,
Jotham,
Ahaz,
and
Hezekiah
of
Judah
and
during
the
reign
of
King
Jeroboam,
son
of
Joash
of
Israel.
\par }{\SH The
adultery
of Hosea’s
wife
\par }{\PP \VS{2}When
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
began
to
speak
through
Hosea,
he
said
to
him:
\par }{\Q ‘Go
marry
an
unfaithful
woman
\par }{\Q who
will
bear
you
children
by
her
adultery,
\par }{\Q for
like
an
adulterous
wife
the
land
is
unfaithful
to
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.’
\par }{\PP \VS{3}So
he
married
Gomer,
the
daughter
of Dibliam,
and
when
she
conceived
and
bore
him
a
son,
\VS{4}the
{\ND{
Lord}}
said:
\par }{\Q ‘Call
him “Jezreel,”
for
in
a
little
while
\par }{\Q I
will
punish
the
dynasty
of
Jehu
\par }{\Q for
the
blood
shed
at
the
valley
of
Jezreel,
\par }{\Q I
will
cause
the
kingdom
of
Israel
to
cease.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}On
that
day,
I
will
break
Israel’s
bows
and
arrows
\par }{\Q in
the
valley
of
Jezreel.’
\par }{\PP \VS{6}When
she
conceived
again
and
bore
a
daughter,
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
said
to
Hosea:
\par }{\Q ‘Call
her
Lo-Ruhamah – “No-Compassion”
\par }{\Q for
I
will
no
longer
have
compassion
on
Israel,
\par }{\Q certainly
not
spare
them.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}But
on
Judah
I
will
have
compassion,
\par }{\Q I
will
deliver
them
by
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
their
God,
\par }{\Q but
I
will
not
deliver
them
by
bow
nor
by
sword,
\par }{\Q nor
by
battle
nor
by
horses
nor
by
horsemen.’
\par }{\PP \VS{8}After
she
had
weaned No-Compassion,
and
when
she
conceived
and
bore
a
son,
he
said:
\par }{\Q \VS{9}‘Call
him
Lo-Ammi – “Not-My-People”
\par }{\Q for
you,
Israel,
are
not
my
people,
\par }{\Q and
I
indeed
am
not
your
God.’
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}Yet
the
number
of
the
Israelites
\par }{\Q will
be
as
the
sand
of
the
sea,
\par }{\Q which
cannot
be
measured
or
counted,
\par }{\Q and
where
they
were
told, ‘You
are
not
my
people,’
\par }{\Q they
will
be
called, ‘children
of
the
living
God.’
\par }{\Q \VS{11}The
Judeans
and
the
Israelites
\par }{\Q will
join
together
again,
\par }{\Q will
appoint
for
themselves
one
leader,
\par }{\Q will
return
to
their
own
land.
\par }{\Q Great
will
be
the
day
of
Jezreel!

\par }\PoetryChap{2}{\Q \VerseOne{1}So
call
your
brothers,
My
People,
\par }{\Q and
your
sisters,
Compassion.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{2}Accuse,
accuse
your
mother:
\par }{\Q for
she
is
not
my
wife,
\par }{\Q and
I
will
not
be
her
husband.
\par }{\Q Let
her
put
her
acts
of infidelity
out
of
her
sight,
\par }{\Q and
her
lovers
from
between
her
breasts,
\par }{\Q \VS{3}else
I
will
strip
her
bare,
\par }{\Q expose
her
as
she
was
on
the
day
of
her
birth,
\par }{\Q make
her
like
the
wilderness,
\par }{\Q let
her
become
like
a
parched
land,
\par }{\Q and
let
her
die
of
thirst.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}And
on
her
children
I
will
have
no
pity,
\par }{\Q since
they
are
children
of
adultery,
\par }{\Q \VS{5}for
their
mother
has
become
a
prostitute,
\par }{\Q she
who
conceived
them
has
behaved
shamefully.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q She
has
said,
\par }{\Q ‘I
will
go
after
my
lovers
\par }{\Q who
gave
me
my
bread
and
my
water,
\par }{\Q my
wool,
my
flax,
my
oil,
and
my
drink.’
\par }{\Q \VS{6}That
is
why
I
am
going
to
hedge
up
her
ways
with
thorns,
\par }{\Q and
build
a
wall
about
her,
\par }{\Q so
that
she
cannot
find
her
paths.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}She
will
pursue
her
lovers,
\par }{\Q but
will
not
overtake
them.
\par }{\Q She
will
seek
them,
\par }{\Q but
not
find
them.
\par }{\Q In
time
she
will
say,
\par }{\Q ‘I
will
go
back
to
my
first
husband,
\par }{\Q I
was
better
off
then
than
now.’
\par }{\Q \VS{8}She
herself
did
not
know
\par }{\Q that
it
was
I
who
gave
her
\par }{\Q the
grain,
the
sweet
wine,
and
the
oil,
\par }{\Q who
lavished
on
her
silver
and
gold –
\par }{\Q that
they
used
in
worshipping
Baal!
\par }{\Q \VS{9}So
I
will
take
back
my
grain
at
the
harvest,
\par }{\Q and
my
sweet
wine
in
its
season.
\par }{\Q I
will
withdraw
my
wool
and
my
flax,
\par }{\Q given
to
cover
her
nakedness;
\par }{\Q \VS{10}and
so
I
will
strip
her
naked
before
her
lovers,
\par }{\Q and
no
one
shall
deliver
her
out
of
my
hand.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}I
will
end
all
her
celebrations,
\par }{\Q her
yearly
feasts,
her
new
moons,
and
her
sabbaths,
\par }{\Q all
her
festivals.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}I
will
lay
waste
her
vines
and
her
fig
trees,
\par }{\Q of
which
she
says, ‘These
are
my
wages
\par }{\Q which
my
lovers
have
given
me.’
\par }{\Q I
will
make
them
a
thicket,
\par }{\Q and
the
wild
animals
will
eat
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}In
this
way
I
will
punish
her
for
the
days
of
the
Baals,
\par }{\Q in
which
she
made
offerings
to
them,
\par }{\Q and
decked
herself
with
earrings
and
jewels,
\par }{\Q and
went
after
her
lovers,
\par }{\Q but
forgot
me,
\par }{\Q –
declares
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}So
I
am
going
to
court
her,
\par }{\Q bring
her
into
the
wilderness,
\par }{\Q and
speak
tenderly
to
her.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}I
will
give
her
from
there
her
vineyards,
\par }{\Q and
the
valley
of
Achor
as
a
door
of
hope.
\par }{\Q There
she
will
respond
as
in
the
days
of
her
youth,
\par }{\Q as
in
the
days
when
she
came
up
from
the
land
of
Egypt.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}At
that
time,
declares
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q you
will
call
me
your
husband,
\par }{\Q and
will
no
more
call
me
your
master.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}I
will
remove
the
name
of
the
Baals
from
her
mouth,
\par }{\Q their
names
never
again
uttered.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}On
that
day
I
will
make
for
them
a
covenant
\par }{\Q with
the
wild
animals,
\par }{\Q the
birds
of
the
sky,
\par }{\Q and
the
creatures
that crawl
on
the
earth.
\par }{\Q I
will
break
the
bow
and
the
sword,
\par }{\Q banish
battle
from
the
land,
\par }{\Q and
I
will
make
them
lie
down
in
safety.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}I
will
take
you
for
my
wife
forever,
\par }{\Q I
will
take
you
for
my
wife
in
righteousness,
\par }{\Q in
justice,
in
kindness,
and
in
mercy.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}I
will
take
you
for
my
wife
in
faithfulness,
\par }{\Q and
you
will
know
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{21}On
that
day
I
will
answer
\par }{\Q –
declares
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q I
will
answer
the
empty
skies,
\par }{\Q and
they
will
answer
the
dry
earth.
\par }{\Q \VS{22}The
earth
will
answer
with
grain,
\par }{\Q and
new
wine
and
oil,
\par }{\Q and
they
will
answer
Jezreel,
\par }{\Q \VS{23}and
I
will
plant
her
in
the
land.
\par }{\Q I
will
have
compassion
to No-Compassion,
\par }{\Q I
will
say
to Not-My-People, ‘You
are
my
people,’
\par }{\Q and
they
will
say, ‘You
are
my
God.’

\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Then
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
said
to
me, ‘Go
again,
show
love
to
this
woman,
who
is
loved
by
another,
who
commits
adultery.
Love
her
as
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
loves
the
Israelites,
though
they
turn
to
other
gods,
and
love
the
raisin
cakes
offered
to
idols.
\par }{\PP \VS{2}So
I
redeemed
her
for
fifteen
pieces
of
silver
and
a
homer
and
a lethek
of
barley.
\VS{3}And
I
told
her, ‘You
must
live
with
me
for
many
days
and
you
must
not
sleep
around
or
marry
another.
And
I
will
do
the
same
for
you.
\par }{\PP \VS{4}And
like
this
the
Israelites
will
live
for
a
long
time
without
king
and
without
prince,
without
sacrifice
and
without
pillar,
without
ephod
and
without
teraphim.
\VS{5}Yet
afterward
the
Israelites
will
return,
and
seek
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
their
God
and
their Davidic
king,
and
in
the
days
to
come
they
will
turn
with
awe
to
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
and
his
goodness.

\par }\Chap{4}{\SH The Lord’s case against Israel
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Hear
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
message,
Israelites,
\par }{\Q for
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
has
brought
charges
against
the
inhabitants
of
the
land,
\par }{\Q for
there
is
no
fidelity,
nor
true
love,
\par }{\Q nor
knowledge
of
God
in
the
land,
\par }{\Q \VS{2}but
cursing,
lying,
and
murder,
\par }{\Q stealing,
committing
adultery,
and
deeds
of
violence,
\par }{\Q and
acts
of
bloodshed
quickly
follow
each
other.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Therefore
the
land
mourns,
\par }{\Q all
its
inhabitants
languish,
\par }{\Q the
wild
animals
and
the
birds
of
the
skies,
\par }{\Q even
the
fish
of
the
sea
are
dying.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Yet
let
no
one
bring
charges,
\par }{\Q let
none
accuse,
\par }{\Q for
your
people
are
like
those,
\par }{\Q who
bring
charges
against
a
priest\FTNT{*}{{\FR 4:4 }
Heb. uncertain.}.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}You
stumble
by
day,
\par }{\Q and
the
prophet
stumbles
with
you
by
night,
\par }{\Q and
I
will
destroy
your
mother.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}My
people
are
being
destroyed
for
lack
of
knowledge;
\par }{\Q because
you
have
rejected
knowledge
\par }{\Q I
reject
you
from
being
priest
to
me.
\par }{\Q Since
you
have
forgotten
the
teaching
of
your
God,
\par }{\Q I
also
will
forget
your
children.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}The
more
priests
there
are,
the
more
they
sin
against
me.
\par }{\Q I
will
change
their
dignity
to
dishonour.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}They
feed
on
the
sin
offerings
of
my
people,
\par }{\Q so
they
hunger
after
their
guilt.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Thus
it
comes
to
be,
like
people,
like
priest:
\par }{\Q I
will
visit
upon
each
punishment
for
their
ways,
\par }{\Q and
their
deeds
I
will
repay
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}They
will
eat
and
not
be
satisfied,
\par }{\Q they
will
sleep
around
but
stay
childless,
\par }{\Q because
they
have
abandoned
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
\par }{\Q to
give
themselves
to
\VS{11}prostitution.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q Old
and
new
wine
take
away
the
understanding.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}My
own
people
ask
counsel
of
a
piece
of
wood!
\par }{\Q A
stick
gives
them
advice!
\par }{\Q For
a
spirit
of
prostitution
has
led
them
astray,
\par }{\Q they
commit
adultery
against
their
God.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}On
the
heights
of
the
mountains
they
sacrifice,
\par }{\Q and
on
the
hills
they
burn
incense
\par }{\Q under
oaks
and
poplars
and terebinths,
\par }{\Q for
their
shade
is
so
pleasant.
\par }{\Q Therefore
your
daughters
become
cult
prostitutes,
\par }{\Q and
your
daughters-in-law
commit
adultery.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}I
will
not
punish
your
daughters
for
committing
prostitution,
\par }{\Q nor
your
daughters-in-law
for
adultery.
\par }{\Q Your
men
visit
prostitutes,
\par }{\Q sacrifice
with
cult
prostitutes.
\par }{\Q So
a
people
without
understanding
come
to
ruin!
\par }{\Q \VS{15}Though
you
commit
adultery,
Israel,
\par }{\Q let
not
Judah
become
guilty.
\par }{\Q Do
not
go
to
Gilgal,
\par }{\Q do
not
go
up
to
Beth-aven,
\par }{\Q nor
swear
an
oath, ‘As
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
lives.’
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{16}Like
a wilful
heifer,
\par }{\Q Israel
is
stubborn.
\par }{\Q Can
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
now
feed
them
\par }{\Q as
he
would
a
lamb
in
a
broad
pasture?
\par }{\Q \VS{17}Ephraim
is wedded
to
idols.
\par }{\Q Leave
them
alone!
\par }{\Q \VS{18}When
their
drinking
is
over
\par }{\Q they
sleep
with
the
cult
prostitutes,
\par }{\Q their
rulers
love
shameful
ways.\FTNT{†}{{\FR 4:18 }
Heb. uncertain.}
\par }{\Q \VS{19}A
windstorm
will
wrap
them
in
its
wings
\par }{\Q and
they
will
be
ashamed
of
their
sacrifices\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 4:19 }
LXX: altars.}.

\par }\Chap{5}{\SH The guilt of priests and princes
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Hear
this,
priests!
\par }{\Q Attend,
Israelites!
\par }{\Q Listen,
royal
family!
\par }{\Q For
you
is
the
judgment:
\par }{\Q a
snare
you
have
become
at
Mizpeh,
\par }{\Q and
a
net
spread
out
on
Tabor,
\par }{\Q \VS{2}the
rebels
are
deep
in
slaughter,
\par }{\Q but
I
will
discipline
all.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}I
know
Ephraim,
\par }{\Q Israel
is
not
hidden
from
me,
\par }{\Q for
you,
Ephraim,
have
committed
prostitution
\par }{\Q and
Israel
is
defiled.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Their
deeds
do
not
permit
them
\par }{\Q to
return
to
their
God.
\par }{\Q For
the
spirit
of
prostitution
is
within
them,
\par }{\Q they
do
not
know
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Israel’s
arrogance
testifies
against
them,
\par }{\Q Israel,
even
Ephraim,
stumble
in
their
sin,
\par }{\Q and
Judah
also
stumbles
with
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}With
their
sheep
and
their
cattle
\par }{\Q they
will
go
to
seek
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
\par }{\Q but
they
will
not
find
him,
\par }{\Q he
has
withdrawn
from
them,
\par }{\Q \VS{7}for
they
have
been untrue
to
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q their
children
are
strangers.
\par }{\Q Their
new
moon
festivals
will
soon
destroy
them
and
their
fields.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}Blow
the
trumpet
in
Gibeah,
\par }{\Q the clarion
in
Ramah!
\par }{\Q Raise
the
alarm
in
Beth-aven:
\par }{\Q we
are
with
you,
Benjamin!\FTNT{*}{{\FR 5:8 }
LXX: make Benjamin tremble}
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Ephraim
will
become
a
desolation
\par }{\Q in
the
day
of
punishment,
\par }{\Q concerning
the
tribes
of
Israel
\par }{\Q I
make
known
what
is
certain.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}The
princes
of
Israel
have
become
\par }{\Q like
thieves
who
move
boundary
stones.
\par }{\Q On
them
I
will
pour
out
my
wrath
like
a
flood.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Ephraim
will
be
oppressed,
crushed
by
judgment,
\par }{\Q for
they
are
determined
to
go
after
vanity\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:11 }
So LXX. Heb. uncertain.
}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}So
I
am
like
a
moth
to
Ephraim,
\par }{\Q like
rottenness
to
the
house
of
Judah.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}For
when
Ephraim
saw
their
sickness
\par }{\Q and
Israel
their
wound,
\par }{\Q Ephraim
turned
to
Assyria,
\par }{\Q to
its patron
king.
\par }{\Q But
he
cannot
heal
you
\par }{\Q nor
relieve
you
of
your
wound.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}For
I
myself
will
be
like
a
lion
to
Ephraim,
\par }{\Q like
a
young
lion
to
the
house
of
Judah.
\par }{\Q I,
yes
I,
will
rend
and
go
my
way,
\par }{\Q I
will
carry
off
and
none
will
rescue.
\par }{\SH The
lack
of
repentance
and
reform
\par }{\Q \VS{15}I
will
return
to
my
place,
\par }{\Q until
in
remorse
they
seek
my
presence.
\par }{\Q When
they
are
in
distress
they
will
quickly
seek
me,

\par }\PoetryChap{6}{\Q \VerseOne{1}saying, ‘Come
let
us
return
to
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q for
he
has
torn
us
\par }{\Q but
he
will
heal
us,
\par }{\Q he
has
injured
us
\par }{\Q but
he
will
bandage
our
wounds,
\par }{\Q \VS{2}he
will
revive
in
a
couple
of
days,
\par }{\Q on
the
third
day
he
will
raise
us
up
again,
\par }{\Q to
live
in
his
presence.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Let
us
know,
let
us
eagerly
seek
to
know
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\Q His
coming
is
as
sure
as
the
sunrise.
\par }{\Q He
will
come
to
us
like
the
winter
rain,
\par }{\Q as
the
spring
rain
that
waters
the
earth.’
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}What
can
I
make
of
you,
Ephraim!
\par }{\Q What
can
I
make
of
you,
Judah!
\par }{\Q Your
love
is
like
a
morning
cloud,
\par }{\Q like
the
dew
which
early
goes
away.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}That
is
why
I
have
hewn
them
by
the
prophets,
\par }{\Q I
have
slain
them
by
the
words
of
my
mouth.
\par }{\Q My
judgment
is
like
the
light
that
goes
forth,
\par }{\Q \VS{6}for
it
is
love
that
I
delight
in
and
not
sacrifice,
\par }{\Q and
knowledge
of
God
and
not
burnt
offerings.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}But
they
after
the
manner
of
men
have
transgressed
the
covenant,
\par }{\Q there
they
have
played
me
false.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Gilead
is
a
city
of
evildoers,
\par }{\Q tracked
with
bloody
footprints,
\par }{\Q \VS{9}and
as
bandits
lie
in
wait
for
a
man,
\par }{\Q so
a
band
of
priests
murder
on
the
way
to
Shechem.
\par }{\Q How
terrible
is
the
evil
they
do!
\par }{\Q \VS{10}In
Bethel
I
have
seen
a
horrible
thing.
\par }{\Q There
Ephraim
plays
the
prostitute,
\par }{\Q Israel
is
defiled.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Judah
for
you
also
a
harvest
is
set.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q When
I
would
restore
the
fortunes
of
my
people,

\par }\PoetryChap{7}{\Q \VerseOne{1}when
I
would
heal
Israel,
\par }{\Q then Ephrain’s
guilt
is
revealed,
\par }{\Q and
Samaria’s
crimes
are
seen,
\par }{\Q how
they
practise
fraud
\par }{\Q and
the
thief
enters
in,
\par }{\Q while
outside
bandits
plunder.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}But
it
never crosses
their
minds
\par }{\Q that
I
remember
their
wickedness.
\par }{\Q Now
their misdeeds
surround
them,
\par }{\Q they
are
always
before
my
face.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}Their
wickedness amuses
the
king,
\par }{\Q and
their
lying gladdens
the
princes,
\par }{\Q \VS{4}since
they
are
all
of
them
adulterers.
\par }{\Q Their
desire
to
do
evil
\par }{\Q burns
like
an
oven
heated
by
the
baker,
\par }{\Q so
hot
that
he
need
not
stir
the
fire,
\par }{\Q from
the
kneading
of
the
dough,
until
it
rises.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}On
our
king’s
festival
day,
\par }{\Q the
princes
are
flushed
with
fever
from
wine.
\par }{\Q He
stretched
forth
his
hand
with
the contemptuous\FTNT{*}{{\FR 7:5 }
Heb. uncertain},
\par }{\Q \VS{6}for
like
an
oven
their
heart
burns
with
treachery,
\par }{\Q all
night
their
anger smoulders,
\par }{\Q in
the
morning
it
blazes
into
a
flame
of
fire.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}All
of
them
glow
like
an
oven,
\par }{\Q they
devour
their
rulers.
\par }{\Q All
their
kings
have
fallen.
\par }{\Q There
is
none
among
them
who
calls
to
me.
\par }{\SH Evidence
of
the nation’s
iniquity
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Ephraim –
he
lets
himself
be
mixed
among
the
peoples,
\par }{\Q Ephraim –
he
has
become
a
cake unturned.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Strangers
have
devoured
his
strength,
but
he
does
not
know
it.
\par }{\Q His
hair
is
sprinkled
with grey,
but
he
does
not
notice.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Israel’s
arrogance
testifies
against
them
\par }{\Q yet
they
do
not
return
to
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
their
God,
\par }{\Q and
in
all
this
they
do
not
seek
him.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}Ephraim
is
like
a
simple,
silly
dove:
\par }{\Q to
Egypt
they
call,
after
Assyria
they
go,
\par }{\Q \VS{12}wherever
they
turn
I
will
spread
my
net
over
them,
\par }{\Q like
birds
of
the
sky
I
will
bring
them
down,
\par }{\Q I
will
catch
them
when
I
hear
them
gathering.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Woe
to
them,
for
they
have
strayed
from
me!
\par }{\Q Destruction
to
them,
for
they
have
been untrue
to
me.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q Although
it
was
I
who
redeemed
them,
\par }{\Q they
speak
lies
about
me.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}They
have
never
cried
to
me
with
their
hearts,
\par }{\Q but
they
are
always
wailing
on
their
beds.
\par }{\Q They
gather
to
beg
for
corn
and
new
wine,
\par }{\Q but
they
turn
away
from
me.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}Although
it
was
I
who
trained
and
strengthened
their
arms,
\par }{\Q concerning
me
they
plan
only
evil.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}They
turn
away
from
the
Most
High\FTNT{†}{{\FR 7:16 }
Heb. uncertain.}.
\par }{\Q They
have
become
like
a
bow
that swerves.
\par }{\Q Their
princes
will
fall
by
the
sword,
\par }{\Q because
of
the
insolence
of
their
tongues.
\par }{\Q The
land
of
Egypt
will
mock
them.

\par }\PoetryChap{8}{\Q \VerseOne{1}Put
the
horn
to
your
mouth!
\par }{\Q An
eagle
swoops
down
upon
the
house
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}\FTNT{*}{{\FR 8:1 }
Heb. uncertain}
\par }{\Q because
they
have
transgressed
my
covenant,
\par }{\Q trespassed
against
my
law.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}To
me
they
continually
cry,
\par }{\Q ‘My
God,
we
Israel,
we
know
you!’
\par }{\Q \VS{3}But
Israel
has
spurned
that
which
is
good,
\par }{\Q so
let
the
foe
pursue
him.
\par }{\SH The
Lord’s
rejection
of
Israel’s
rulers
and
idols
\par }{\Q \VS{4}They
themselves
have
made
kings
\par }{\Q but
without
my
consent.
\par }{\Q They
have
made
princes
\par }{\Q but
without
my
knowledge.
\par }{\Q Out
of
their
silver
and
gold,
\par }{\Q they
have
made
idols
to
their
destruction!
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Your
calf
idol,
O
Samaria,
is distasteful.
\par }{\Q My
anger
is
kindled
against
them.
\par }{\Q How
long
will
they
escape
punishment?
\par }{\Q \VS{6}Israel
made
the
thing:
\par }{\Q a
workman
made
it.
\par }{\Q It
is
not
a
god!
\par }{\Q Samaria’s
calf
will
become
mere
splinters.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}They
sow
the
wind
and
will
reap
the
whirlwind.
\par }{\Q A
shoot
which
has
no
stalk,
yields
no
fruit
\par }{\Q If
it
should
yield,
strangers
would
devour
it.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}Israel
is
devoured.
\par }{\Q Already
it
lies
discarded
among
the
nations
\par }{\Q like
a
worthless
pot.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}For
by
themselves
they
have
gone
up
to
Assyria
\par }{\Q like
a
wild
donkey
which
wanders
by
itself.
\par }{\Q Ephraim
pays
for
love
\par }{\Q \VS{10}but
even
if
they
sell
themselves
among
the
nations,
\par }{\Q I
will
round
them
up.
\par }{\Q Soon
the
kings
and
princes
will
writhe
under
the
burden
of
tribute!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}For
as
many
altars
as
Ephraim
has
erected,
\par }{\Q they
are
to
him
altars
for
sinning,
\par }{\Q \VS{12}were
I
to
write
for
him
ever
so
many
instructions,
\par }{\Q they
would
be
regarded
as
from
a
stranger.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}The
people
love
sacrifice,
and
so
they
offer
sacrifices,
\par }{\Q meat,
and
so
they
eat
it,
\par }{\Q although
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
not
pleased
with
them,
\par }{\Q so
now
he
will
remember
their
guilt,
\par }{\Q and
punish
their
sins.
\par }{\Q Back
to
Egypt
with
them!
\par }{\Q \VS{14}For
Israel
forgot
his
Maker
and
built
palaces,
\par }{\Q and
Judah
multiplied
fortified
cities.
\par }{\Q But
I
will
send
fire
upon
her
cities,
\par }{\Q and
it
will
devour
her
strongholds.

\par }\Chap{9}{\SH The horrors of the coming exile
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Rejoice
not
too
loudly,
Israel,
\par }{\Q like
the
nations,
\par }{\Q for
you
have commited
adultery,
\par }{\Q being untrue
to
your
God.
\par }{\Q You
have
loved
a prostitute’s
wages
\par }{\Q on
every
threshing
floor.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Threshing
floor
and
wine
vat
won’t
feed
them,
\par }{\Q the
new
wine
will
fail
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}They
will
not
stay
in
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
land,
\par }{\Q but
Ephraim
will
return
to
Egypt,
\par }{\Q and
in
Assyria
they
will
eat
what
is
unclean.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}They
will
not
pour
out
libations
of
wine
to
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q nor
please
him
with
their
sacrifices.
\par }{\Q Their
bread
will
be
like
the
bread
of
mourners:
\par }{\Q all
who
eat
it
will
defile
themselves.
\par }{\Q For
their
bread
will
be
only
for
their
hunger,
\par }{\Q it
will
not
come
into
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
temple.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}What
will
you
do
on
the
day
of
the
festival?
\par }{\Q Or
on
the
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
feast?
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}Even
if
they
flee
from
destruction,
\par }{\Q Egypt
will
gather
them,
\par }{\Q Memphis
will
bury
them.
\par }{\Q Nettles
will
take
possession
of
their
treasure
of
silver,
\par }{\Q thorns
will
push
into
their
tents.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}The
days
of
punishment
are
come,
\par }{\Q the
days
of
recompense
are
at
hand,
\par }{\Q as
soon
the
Israelites
will
know!
\par }{\Q ‘The
prophet
is
a
fool,
\par }{\Q the
inspired
man
is raving
mad!’
\par }{\Q It
is
because
of
the
greatness
of
your
iniquity
\par }{\Q and
the
greatness
of
your
hatred.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Ephraim
acts
the
spy
with
my
God,
\par }{\Q a
prophet
finds
the
snares
of
a
fowler
are
in
all
his
ways.
\par }{\Q In
the
house
of
his
God
they
lay
hostile
plots,
\par }{\Q \VS{9}they
commit
crimes
as
in
the
days
of
Gibeah,
\par }{\Q God
will
remember
their
iniquity.
\par }{\Q He
will
punish
their
sin.
\par }{\SH Israel’s
corruption
\par }{\Q \VS{10}I
found
Israel
\par }{\Q like
finding
grapes
in
the
wilderness.
\par }{\Q I
saw
your
ancestors
\par }{\Q like
they
were
the
first
fruit
on
a
fig
tree,
\par }{\Q but
as
soon
as
they
came
to
Baal-peor,
\par }{\Q they
consecrated
themselves
to shamefulness,
\par }{\Q and
became
as
abominable
as
the
object
of
their
love.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}Ephraim –
like
a
bird
his
glory
flies
away.
\par }{\Q There
will
be
no
more
birth,
\par }{\Q no
more motherhood,
\par }{\Q no
more
conception.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Even
though
they
bring
up
their
children,
\par }{\Q I
will
bereave
them
until
not
one
is
left.
\par }{\Q Woe
to
them
when
I
turn
away
from
them!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}Ephraim –
planted
like
Tyre
in
a
meadow\FTNT{*}{{\FR 9:13 }
Heb. uncertain. LXX: as I have seen, his sons are destined to be a prey},
\par }{\Q But
Ephraim
too
must
lead
forth
their
children
to
slaughter.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}Give
them,
{\ND{
Lord}} –
what
will
you
give?
\par }{\Q Give
them
a
miscarrying
womb
and shrivelled
up
breasts!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}All
their
evil
began
in
Gilgal,
\par }{\Q there
I
learned
to
hate
them.
\par }{\Q Because
of
the
evil
of
their
deeds
\par }{\Q I
will
drive
them
out
of
my
house.
\par }{\Q I
will
no
longer
love
them,
\par }{\Q for
all
their
princes
are
rebels.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}Ephraim
is blighted,
\par }{\Q their
root
withered.
\par }{\Q If
they
do
bear
children,
\par }{\Q I
will
slay
the darlings
of
their
womb,
\par }{\Q \VS{17}My
God
will
reject
them
\par }{\Q because
they
have
not
listened
to
him,
\par }{\Q and
they
will
become
wanderers
among
the
nations.

\par }\PoetryChap{10}{\Q \VerseOne{1}A
luxuriant
vine
is
Israel.
\par }{\Q He
bore
fruit lavishly.
\par }{\Q In
proportion
to
the
increase
of
his
fruit
\par }{\Q he
increased
altars
to
idols.
\par }{\Q In
proportion
to
the
beauty
of
his
land
\par }{\Q he
made
beautiful
the
sacred
pillars.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{2}Their
heart
is
false,
\par }{\Q now
they
must
be
punished.
\par }{\Q God
himself
will
break
the
necks
of
their
altars,
\par }{\Q he
will
destroy
their
sacred
pillars.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}Yes,
soon
they
will
be
saying,
\par }{\Q ‘We
have
no
king,
\par }{\Q for
we
have
not
revered
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q and
a
king,
what
could
he
do
for
us anyway?’
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}Speaking
words, perjuring
themselves,
making agreements,
\par }{\Q and litigation
springs
up
like
a
poisonous weed
in
a ploughed
field.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}The
inhabitants
of
Samaria
will
tremble
with
fear
\par }{\Q for
their
calf
of
Beth-aven.
\par }{\Q Its
people
will
mourn
over
it,
\par }{\Q and
so
will
its
priests,
\par }{\Q who
had
rejoiced
for
its
glory,
\par }{\Q now
departed
from
it.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}It
will
be
carried
off
to
Assyria
\par }{\Q as
a
present
to
the patron
king.
\par }{\Q Disgrace
will
Ephraim
bear
\par }{\Q and
Israel
will
be
ashamed
of
its
idol.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}As
for
Samaria,
her
king
will
disappear,
\par }{\Q like
foam
on
the
face
of
the
waters.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}And
the
high
places
of
Aven
will
be
destroyed,
\par }{\Q the
shrines
of
Israel’s
sin,
\par }{\Q thorns
and
thistles
will
grow
on
their
altars,
\par }{\Q and
they
will
say
to
the
mountains, ‘Cover
us,’
\par }{\Q and
to
the
hills, ‘Fall
upon
us.’
\par }{\SH What
a
nation
sows,
it
will
reap
\par }{\Q \VS{9}From
the
time
of
Gibeah,
Israel
has
sinned.
\par }{\Q There
they
took
their
stand.
\par }{\Q Will
not
war
overtake
them
in
Gibeah
\par }{\Q because
of
the
wicked?
\par }{\Q \VS{10}When
I
please,
I
will
punish
them.
\par }{\Q Nations
will
gather
against
them
\par }{\Q to
chain
them
for
their
double
crimes.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}Ephraim
indeed
was
a
trained
heifer
that
loved
to
thresh
grain,
\par }{\Q and
I
myself
laid
a
yoke
upon
his
fair
neck\FTNT{*}{{\FR 10:11 }
Heb. uncertain.},
\par }{\Q I
made
Ephraim
draw
and
Judah
must plough,
\par }{\Q Jacob
must
turn
the
soil
for
himself.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Sow
for
yourselves
righteousness,
\par }{\Q reap
the
fruits
of
love.
\par }{\Q Break
up
your
fallow
ground,
\par }{\Q for
it
is
time
to
seek
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q so
righteousness
may
come
to
you\FTNT{†}{{\FR 10:12 }
Heb. uncertain}.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}But
you
have ploughed
wickedness,
\par }{\Q iniquity
have
you
reaped.
\par }{\Q You
have
eaten
the
fruit
of
lies.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q Because
you
have
trusted
in
your
own
path\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 10:13 }
LXX: chariots},
\par }{\Q in
the
multitude
of
your
warriors,
\par }{\Q \VS{14}the
alarm
of
war
will
sound
in
your
cities
\par }{\Q and
all
your
fortresses
will
be
ruined,
\par }{\Q as
Shalman
laid
in
ruins
Beth-arbel
in
the
day
of
battle,
\par }{\Q when
mothers
were
dashed
to
pieces
over
their
children.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}Thus
will
I
do
to
you,
Bethel,
\par }{\Q because
of
the enormity
of
your
wickedness.
\par }{\Q When
dawn
breaks,
so
will
the
king
of
Israel
be
broken.

\par }\Chap{11}{\SH The Lord’s love for his faithless people
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}When
Israel
was
young,
then
I
began
to
love
him,
\par }{\Q and
out
of
Egypt
I
called
my
son.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}The
more
I
called
them,
\par }{\Q the
further
they
went
away
from
me.
\par }{\Q They
kept
sacrificing
to
Baals
\par }{\Q and
making
offerings
to
idols.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}Yet
it
was
I
who
taught
Ephraim
to
walk,
\par }{\Q taking
them
up
in
my
arms,
\par }{\Q but
they
did
not
know
that
I
healed
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}With humane
cords
I
ever
drew
them,
\par }{\Q with
bands
of
love.
\par }{\Q I
was
to
them
as
one
who
lifts
up
the
yoke
from
off
their
jaws,
\par }{\Q and
bending
toward
them,
I
gave
them
food
to
eat.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}No!
They
return
to
the
land
of
Egypt,
\par }{\Q Assyria
will
be
their
king,
\par }{\Q for
they
have
refused
to
return
to
me.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}Therefore
the
swords
will
whirl
in
their
cities,
\par }{\Q will
devour
in
their
fortresses\FTNT{*}{{\FR 11:6 }
Heb. uncertain}.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}For
my
people
are
bent
in
rebellion
against
me,
\par }{\Q even
if
they
call
on
the
Most
High
he
will
not
raise
them\FTNT{†}{{\FR 11:7 }
Heb. uncertain.}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}How
can
I
give
you
up,
Ephraim!
\par }{\Q Give
you
over,
Israel!
\par }{\Q How
am
I
to
give
you
up
as
Admah!
\par }{\Q Make
you
like
Zeboim!
\par }{\Q My
heart
asserts
itself,
\par }{\Q my sympathies
are
all aglow.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}I
will
not
carry
into
effect
the
fierceness
of
my
anger,
\par }{\Q I
will
not
turn
to
destroy
Ephraim,
\par }{\Q for
God
am
I,
and
not
man,
\par }{\Q holy
in
the
midst
of
you,
\par }{\Q therefore
I
will
not
consume.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}They
will
follow
after
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\Q Like
a
lion
he
will
roar,
\par }{\Q and
when
he
roars
\par }{\Q his
children
will
come
trembling
from
the
west.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}They
will
come
trembling
like
the
birds
from
Egypt,
\par }{\Q like
doves
from
the
land
of
Assyria.
\par }{\Q And
I
will
bring
them
back
to
their
houses,
\par }{\Q –
declares
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\SH Israel’s
faithlessness
from
the
first
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Ephraim
has
encompassed
me
with
falsehood,
\par }{\Q and
the
house
of
Israel
with
deceit.
\par }{\Q But
Judah
still
wanders
with
God
\par }{\Q faithful
to
the
Holy
One\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 11:12 }
Heb. uncertain. Or “Judah is still restless against God”}.

\par }\PoetryChap{12}{\Q \VerseOne{1}Ephraim
herds
the
wind
and
hunts
the sirocco.
\par }{\Q All
day
long
they
heap
up
falsehood
and
fraud,
\par }{\Q make
a
treaty
with
Assyria,
\par }{\Q and
sends
tribute
of
olive
oil
to
Egypt.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
has
a
charge
to
bring
against
Israel,
\par }{\Q to
punish
Jacob
for
his
acts,
\par }{\Q according
to
his
deeds
will
he
requite
him,
\par }{\Q \VS{3}In
the
womb
he
supplanted
his
brother,
\par }{\Q in
manhood
he
wrestled
with
God,
\par }{\Q \VS{4}He
wrestled
with
the
angel
and
prevailed,
\par }{\Q he
wept
and
sought
his
blessing.
\par }{\Q At
Bethel
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
found
him,
\par }{\Q and
there
he
spoke
with
us.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}And
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
the
God
of
hosts,
\par }{\Q the
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
his
name!
\par }{\Q \VS{6}So
now,
by
the
help
of
your
God,
return.
\par }{\Q Keep
true
love
and
justice.
\par }{\Q Trust
in
your
God
without
ceasing.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}A
merchant
uses
false
scales:
\par }{\Q They
love
to
defraud.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Ephraim
says, ‘Yes,
I
have
become
rich,
\par }{\Q I
have
secured
wealth
for
myself.
\par }{\Q But
despite
my
gains
\par }{\Q no
one
will
find
a
crime
I
can
be convicted
of!’
\par }{\Q \VS{9}I
am
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God,
\par }{\Q ever
since
the
land
of
Egypt.
\par }{\Q I
will
make
you
again
dwell
in
tents,
\par }{\Q as
in
days
of
old.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}I
spoke
continually
by
the
prophets.
\par }{\Q It
was
I
who
multiplied
visions,
\par }{\Q and
spoke
in
parables
through
the
prophets.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}In
Gilead
is
iniquity,
\par }{\Q they
will
come
to
nothing.
\par }{\Q In
Gilgal
they
sacrifice
bulls,
\par }{\Q so
their
altars
will
be
as
stone
heaps,
\par }{\Q among
the
furrows
of
the
field.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}And
Jacob
fled
to
the
territory
of
Aram,
\par }{\Q and
Israel
worked
to earn
a
wife:
\par }{\Q for
a
wife
he herded
sheep.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
brought
Israel
up
from
Egypt
by
a
prophet,
\par }{\Q and
by
a
prophet
Israel
was
guarded.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}Ephraim
has
given
bitter
provocation.
\par }{\Q His
Lord
will
leave
upon
him
his
guilt
of
bloodshed,
\par }{\Q and
for
his
contempt
he
will
repay
him.

\par }\Chap{13}{\SH The Lord’s final destruction of the guilty nation
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}When
Ephraim
used
to
speak
there
was
trembling;
\par }{\Q a
prince
was
he
in
Israel.
\par }{\Q But
he
incurred
guilt
through
Baal
and
died.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}And
now
they
go
on
sinning.
\par }{\Q They
make
for
themselves
molten
gods –
\par }{\Q idols
of
silver,
skilfully
made,
\par }{\Q wholly
the
work
of
smiths.
\par }{\Q Yet
to
such
they
sacrifice!
\par }{\Q And
they
who
sacrifice
kiss
calf
idols\FTNT{*}{{\FR 13:2 }
Heb. uncertain}!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}Therefore
they
shall
be
like
the
morning
mist,
\par }{\Q like
the
dew
that
early
disappears,
\par }{\Q like
the
chaff
which
blows
away
from
the
threshing
floor,
\par }{\Q like
the
smoke
from
the
window.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}Yet
it
was
I,
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God,
\par }{\Q ever
since
the
land
of
Egypt,
\par }{\Q you
know
no
other
god
but
me,
\par }{\Q nor
has
there
been
any
saviour
except
me.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}It
was
I
who
shepherded
you
in
the
wilderness,
\par }{\Q in
the
land
of
burning
heat.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}When
they
were
pastured
\par }{\Q they
became
full,
\par }{\Q when
they
were
full
\par }{\Q their
hearts
became
proud.
\par }{\Q Therefore
they
forgot
me!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}So
now
I
will
be
to
them
like
a
lion,
\par }{\Q like
a
leopard
will
I
lay
in
wait
by
the
path.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}I
will
fall
upon
them
like
a
bear
robbed
of
her
cubs,
\par }{\Q I
will
tear
open
their
chests,
\par }{\Q like
a
lion
will
devour
them,
\par }{\Q and
like
a
wild
beast
will
tear
them
in
pieces.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}You
are
destroyed,
Israel,
\par }{\Q by
me,
your
only
helper.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}I
want
to
rule
you!
\par }{\Q Where
are
your
princes
in
your
cities,
\par }{\Q those
of
whom
you
demanded,
\par }{\Q ‘Give
me
kings
and
princes.’
\par }{\Q \VS{11}I
give
you
kings
in
my
anger,
\par }{\Q and
take
them
away
in
my
wrath.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}Ephrahn’s
iniquity
is
gathered
up,
\par }{\Q his
sin
is
laid
by
in
store.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}The
pangs
of
childbirth
come
upon
him,
\par }{\Q but
he
is
an
unwise
child.
\par }{\Q For
this
is
no
time
to
refuse
to
leave
the
womb!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}Should
I
deliver
them
from
the
power
of
Sheol?
\par }{\Q Should
I
redeem
them
from
death?
\par }{\Q Death,
where
are
your
plagues?
\par }{\Q Sheol,
where
is
your
pestilence?
\par }{\Q Compassion
is
forever
hidden
from
my
eyes.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}Though
he
is
flourishing
among
his
brothers\FTNT{†}{{\FR 13:15 }
Or: in the midst of the reeds},
\par }{\Q there
will
come
an
east
wind,
\par }{\Q the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
wind,
\par }{\Q coming
up
from
the
wilderness.
\par }{\Q His
fountain
will
dry
up,
\par }{\Q his
spring
shall
be
parched.
\par }{\Q The
wind
will
strip
the
treasury,
\par }{\Q all
the
precious
things.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{16}Samaria
will
bear
her
guilt,
\par }{\Q for
she
has
rebelled
against
her
God.
\par }{\Q They
will
fall
by
the
sword,
\par }{\Q their
children
dashed
to
pieces,
\par }{\Q their
pregnant
women
ripped
open.

\par }\Chap{14}{\SH Words of exhortation and promise
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Return,
Israel,
to
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God,
\par }{\Q for
you
have
stumbled
in
your
iniquity.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Take
words
of
repentance
with
you,
\par }{\Q and
return
to
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q Say
to
him:
\par }{\Q Wholly
pardon
our
iniquity,
\par }{\Q accept
that
which
is
good,
\par }{\Q instead
of
sacrificing
bulls,
\par }{\Q we
offer
our
praise.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Assyria
will
not
save
us,
\par }{\Q nor
Egyptian
warhorses,
\par }{\Q and
we
will
no
more
call
\par }{\Q the
work
of
our
hands
our
gods.
\par }{\Q For
in
you
orphan
Israel
finds
mercy.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}‘I
will
heal
their
apostasy,
\par }{\Q I
will
love
them
freely,
\par }{\Q now
that
my
anger
is
turned
away
from
them,
\par }{\Q \VS{5}I
will
be
as
dew
to
Israel.
\par }{\Q He
will
blossom
like
the
lily,
\par }{\Q he
will
plant
his
roots
like
the
cedars
of
Lebanon,
\par }{\Q \VS{6}his saplings
will
spread
out,
\par }{\Q his
beauty
will
be
like
that
of
the
olive
tree,
\par }{\Q his
fragrance
like
the
cedars
of
Lebanon.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}People
will
return
and
dwell
in
my
shade,
\par }{\Q they
will
bring
life
to
new
grain.
\par }{\Q They
shall
sprout
like
the
vine,
\par }{\Q and
their
renown
will
be
like
that
of
the
wine
of
Lebanon.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}Ephraim –
what
have
I
to
do
with
idols!
\par }{\Q It
is
I
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
who
respond
to
him
and
look
after
him.
\par }{\Q I
am
like
an evergreen
cypress,
\par }{\Q from
me
is
your
fruit
found.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}Whoever
is
wise,
\par }{\Q let
him
discern
these
things,
\par }{\Q prudent,
let
him
perceive
them;
\par }{\Q For
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
ways
are
straight,
\par }{\Q and
the
righteous
walk
in
them,
\par }{\Q but
the
wicked
stumble
in
them.
\par }