When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution and have children of [her] prostitution; for the land commits great acts of prostitution by not following the Lord.”

“Therefore, I will return and take back My grain at harvest time
And My new wine in its season.
I will also take away My wool and My flax
Given to cover her nakedness.

“For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth,
So that they will no longer be mentioned or remembered by their names.

Therefore the land [continually] mourns,
And everyone who lives in it languishes [in tragic suffering]
Together with the animals of the open country and the birds of the heavens;
Even the fish of the sea disappear.

Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away the mind and the [spiritual] understanding.

Ephraim is joined to idols,
So let him alone [to suffer the consequences].

I gave you a king in My anger,
And I took him away in My wrath [as punishment].

Take the words [confessing your guilt] with you and return to the Lord.
Say to Him, “Take away all our wickedness;
Accept what is good and receive us graciously,
So that we may present the fruit of our lips (gratitude).