Hosea 9:1-17

Stop rejoicing, people of Israel! Stop rejoicing as you celebrate your festivals like pagans, for you have deserted your God and committed fornication with other gods. You have loved the prostitute’s pay on every threshing floor as if Baal were the one who could give you good harvests. You will not be able to enjoy the bounty of your harvest— for others will consume your wheat, oil, and wine. Ephraim will not remain in YAHWEH’s land; they will have to go back to Egypt or eat Assyria’s polluted food. Their sacrifices will not be pleasing to YAHWEH. They will not be able to offer their firstfruits nor pour out drink offerings of wine to him, for their food will be like funeral fare— food given to those in mourning. Whoever eats it will become unclean. They will only have sufficient food to satisfy their hunger and not enough to offer to YAHWEH in his house. What will you do on the appointed feast days, on the day you gather for YAHWEH’s festivals? Look! Even if you flee from destruction, Egypt will round you up. Your gathering together will be for your burial in Memphis. Your silver treasures will be lost among the weeds, and thornbushes will overgrow your homes. Your day of punishment has come, and the time for recompense has arrived, and Israel will know it. You say, “The prophet is a fool. This man of the Spirit is crazy!” But your guilt is great, even greater than all your deep-seated hatred. This prophet of my God is a watchman for Israel. Yet, everywhere he goes, the people set traps for him. He is considered an enemy in the house of his God. Israel has sunk so deeply into depravity— just as you did at Gibeah. God will not overlook the guilt of your actions; he will punish you for your sins. says, “When I found you, Israel, it was as pleasing as finding ripe grapes in the desert. When I saw your ancestors, it was as delightful as seeing the early ripe figs on a new fig tree in its first productive season. But when they reached Baal Peor they devoted themselves to the shameful god, Baal, and became as shameful as the things they loved. The glory of Israel will fly away from you like a bird, leaving you infertile—no pregnancy, no conception. Even if they raise their children, I will remove them, and not one will be left alive. Even worse than that will be when I desert you. Ephraim, I once saw you like the city of Tyre planted in a pleasant setting, but now you must send out your sons to be slaughtered in battle.” YAHWEH, give them . . . Yes, what punishment should I ask you to give? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts with no milk. says, “All of Ephraim’s evil began at Gilgal. It was there that I started to become their enemy. I will drive them out of my house because of the evil they have done. I will no longer love them because all their leaders are rebels. Ephraim, you’re finished! Your root has dried up, and you will bear no more fruit. Even if the women do give birth, I will put their beloved children to death.” My God will disown you because you have not listened to him. You will become wanderers among the nations.