The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto you a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry: for the land has committed great harlotry, departing from the LORD.

For their mother has played the harlot: she that conceived them has done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.

And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, of which she has said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.

Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land: Because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

My people ask counsel of their idols of wood, and their staff advises unto them: for the spirit of harlotry has caused them to err, and they have played the harlot against their God.

The wind has bound her up in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has smitten, and he will bind us up.

Also, O Judah, he has appointed a harvest for you, when I return the captives of my people.

They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceases to stir the fire after he has kneaded the dough, until it is leavened.

Ephraim, he has mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard.

Israel has cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.

Your calf, O Samaria, has cast you off; my anger is kindled against them: how long will it be before they attain to innocence?

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: the stalk has no bud: it shall yield no meal: if so be it does yield, the aliens shall swallow it up.

For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey alone by itself: Ephraim has hired lovers.

Because Ephraim has made many altars for sin offerings, the altars shall be unto him for sinning.

For Israel has forgotten his Maker, and builds temples; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour his palaces.

Israel is an empty vine, he brings forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he has increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.

The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for its people shall mourn over it, and its idolatrous priests shall wail over it, for its glory has departed from it.

The LORD has also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds will he recompense him.

Samaria shall become desolate; for she has rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for my anger has turned away from him.