The beginning of Jehovah speaking by Hosea. And Jehovah said to Hosea, Go, take to yourself a wife of adultery and children of adultery. For the land has utterly gone lusting away from Jehovah.

For their mother has prostituted herself. She who conceived them has done shamefully. For she said, I will go after my lovers who give 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, They 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 Jehovah, sons of Israel. For Jehovah has a quarrel with the people of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

And it has become, Like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their doings.

My people seek advice from their wooden idols, and their rod declares to them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to go astray, and they have gone lusting away from under their God.

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

They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Jehovah; but they shall not find Him. He has withdrawn Himself from them.

Come and let us return to Jehovah. For He has torn, and He will heal us; He has stricken, and He will bind us up.

Israel has thrown off good; the enemy shall pursue him.

Your calf, O Samaria, has cast you off. My anger is kindled against them. Until when will they not attain purity?

For they sow the wind, and they reap the whirlwind. It has no stalk; the bud shall yield no meal; if it does yield, strangers shall swallow it up.

For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself. Ephraim has hired lovers.

Because Ephraim has made many altars to sin, altars shall be to him to sin.

For Israel has forgotten his Maker, and builds temples. And Judah has multiplied cities. But I will send a fire on his cities, and it shall burn up her palaces.

Israel is a luxuriant vine; he brings out fruit to himself. According to the multitude of his fruit, he has increased the altars. They have made beautiful images according to the goodness of his land.

Because of the calves of Beth-aven, the people of Samaria shall dread. For its people shall mourn over it, and its priest rejoiced on it for its glory, because it has departed from it.

Jehovah also has a quarrel with Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings He will repay him.

Samaria shall become a waste, for she has rebelled against her God. They shall fall by the sword. Their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women shall be ripped up.

I will heal their backslidings; I will love them freely; for My anger has turned away from him.