<p class="poetry">whenever I want to heal Israel,p> <p class="poetry">the sin of Ephraim is revealed,p> <p class="poetry">and the evil deeds of Samaria are exposed.p> <p class="poetry">For they do what is wrong;p> <p class="poetry">thieves break into houses,p> <p class="poetry">and gangs rob people out in the streets.p>

<p class="poetry">The arrogance of Israel testifies against him,p> <p class="poetry">yet they refuse to return to the <sc>Lordsc> their God!p> <p class="poetry">In spite of all this they refuse to seek him!p>

<p class="poetry">That idol was made by a workman &#8211; it is not God!p> <p class="poetry">The calf idol of Samaria will be broken to bits.p>

<p class="poetry">Israel has forgotten his Maker and built royal palaces,p> <p class="poetry">and Judah has built many fortified cities.p> <p class="poetry">But I will send fire on their cities;p> <p class="poetry">it will consume their royal citadels.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">O Israel, do not rejoice jubilantly<n id="1" /> like the nations,p> <p class="poetry">for you are unfaithful<n id="2" /> to your God.p> <p class="poetry">You love to receive a prostitute's wages<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">on all the floors where you thresh your grain.p>

<p class="poetry">The time of judgment<n id="1" /> is about to arrive!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">The time of retribution<n id="3" /> is imminent!<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">Let Israel know!<n id="5" />p><t /><p class="poetry">The prophet is considered a fool<n id="6" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">the inspired man<n id="7" /> is viewed as a madman<n id="8" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">because of the multitude of your sinsp> <p class="poetry">and your intense<n id="9" /> animosity.p>

<p class="poetry">When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the wilderness.p> <p class="poetry">I viewed your ancestors<n id="1" /> like an early fig on a fig tree in its first season.p> <p class="poetry">Then they came to Baal-Peor and they dedicated themselves to shame &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">they became as detestable as what they loved.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Israel was a fertile vinep> <p class="poetry">that yielded fruit.p> <p class="poetry">As his fruit multiplied,p> <p class="poetry">he multiplied altars to Baal.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">As his land prospered,p> <p class="poetry">they adorned the fertility pillars.p>

<p class="poetry">Even the calf idol<n id="1" /> will be carried to Assyria,p> <p class="poetry">as tribute for the great king.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Ephraim will be disgraced;p> <p class="poetry">Israel will be put to shame because<n id="3" /> of its wooden idol.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">The high places of the &#8220;House<n id="1" /> of Wickedness&#8221;<n id="2" /> will be destroyed;p> <p class="poetry">it is the place where Israel sins.p> <p class="poetry">Thorns and thistles will grow up over its altars.p> <p class="poetry">Then they will say to the mountains, &#8220;Cover us!&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">and to the hills, &#8220;Fall on us!&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="poetry">O Israel, you have sinned since the time<n id="1" /> of Gibeah,p> <p class="poetry">and there you have remained.p> <p class="poetry">Did not war overtake the evildoers in Gibeah?p>

<p class="poetry">So will it happen to you, O Bethel,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">because of your great wickedness!p> <p class="poetry">When that day dawns,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">the king of Israel will be destroyed.<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">How can I give you up,<n id="1" /> O Ephraim?p> <p class="poetry">How can I surrender you, O Israel?p> <p class="poetry">How can I treat you like Admah?p> <p class="poetry">How can I make you like Zeboiim?p> <p class="poetry">I have had a change of heart!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">All my tender compassions are aroused!<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry"><v id="(12:1)" /><n id="1" /> Ephraim has surrounded me with lies;p> <p class="poetry">the house of Israel has surrounded me<n id="2" /> with deceit.p> <p class="poetry">But Judah still roams about with<n id="3" /> God;p> <p class="poetry">he remains faithful to the Holy One.p>

<t /><n id="1" /><p class="bodytext">This is the word of the <sc>Lordsc> which was revealed to Hosea<n id="2" /> son of Beeri during the time when<n id="3" /> Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah ruled Judah,<n id="4" /> and during the time when Jeroboam son of Joash<n id="5" /> ruled Israel.<n id="6" />p>

Then the <sc>Lordsc> said to Hosea,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Name him &#8216;Jezreel,&#8217; because in a little while I will punish<n id="2" /> the dynasty<n id="3" /> of Jehu on account of the bloodshed<n id="4" /> in the valley of Jezreel,<n id="5" /> and I will put an end to the kingdom<n id="6" /> of Israel.<n id="7" />

<p class="bodytext">She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the <sc>Lordsc><n id="1" /> said to him, &#8220;Name her &#8216;No Pity&#8217; (Lo-Ruhamah) because I will no longer have pity<n id="2" /> on the nation<n id="3" /> of Israel. For<n id="4" /> I will certainly not forgive<n id="5" /> their guilt.<n id="6" />

<t /><p class="bodytext"><v id="(2:1)" /><n id="1" /> However,<n id="2" /> in the future the number of the people<n id="3" /> of Israel will be like the sand of the sea which can be neither measured nor numbered. Although<n id="4" /> it was said to them, &#8220;You are not my people,&#8221; it will be said to them, &#8220;You are<n id="5" /> children<n id="6" /> of the living God!&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> said to me, &#8220;Go, show love to<n id="1" /> your wife<n id="2" /> again, even though she loves<n id="3" /> another man<n id="4" /> and continually commits adultery.<n id="5" /> Likewise, the <sc>Lordsc> loves<n id="6" /> the Israelites<n id="7" /> although they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.&#8221;<n id="8" />

<t /><p class="poetry">Hear the word of the <sc>Lordsc>, you Israelites!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> has a covenant lawsuit<n id="2" /> against the people of Israel.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">For there is neither faithfulness nor loyalty in the land,p> <p class="poetry">nor do they acknowledge God.<n id="4" />p>