So I paid fifteen shekels of silver and about seven bushels of barley to purchase her.

At that time, I will destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”

This is the word of the Lord which was revealed to Hosea son of Beeri during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah ruled Judah, and during the time when Jeroboam son of Joash ruled Israel.

All of them are blazing like an oven; they devour their rulers. All of their kings fall – and none of them call on me!

Therefore, I will certainly cut you into pieces at the hands of the prophets; I will certainly kill you in fulfillment of my oracles of judgment; for my judgment will come forth like the light of the dawn.

Ephraim will be ruined in the day of judgment! What I am declaring to the tribes of Israel will certainly take place!

Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will flourish in the land. Certainly, the day of Jezreel will be great!

So what will you do on the festival day, on the festival days of the Lord?

So will it happen to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness! When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be destroyed.

Because 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.

“I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again as in the days of old.

Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Name him ‘Jezreel,’ because in a little while I will punish the dynasty of Jehu on account of the bloodshed in the valley of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.

At the celebration of their king, his princes become inflamed with wine; they conspire with evildoers.

Gilead is a city full of evildoers; its streets are stained with bloody footprints!

The 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.

The labor pains of a woman will overtake him, but the baby will lack wisdom; when the time arrives, he will not come out of the womb!

(2:1) However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea which can be neither measured nor numbered. Although it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it will be said to them, “You are children of the living God!”

The punishment of Ephraim has been decreed; his punishment is being stored up for the future.

The time of judgment is about to arrive! The time of retribution is imminent! Let Israel know!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.

Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites! For the Lord has a covenant lawsuit against the people of Israel. For there is neither faithfulness nor loyalty in the land, nor do they acknowledge God.