9Hosea 9

Israel Will Be Punished

1Israel, don't celebrate or make noisy shouts like other nations. You have been unfaithful to your God. Wherever grain is threshed, you behave like prostitutes because you enjoy the money you receive.Select Hosea 9:1

2But you will run short of grain and wine,Select Hosea 9:2

3and you will have to leave the land of the Lord. Some of you will go to Egypt; others will go to Assyria and eat unclean food.Select Hosea 9:3

4You won't be able to offer sacrifices of wine to the Lord. None of your sacrifices will please him— they will be unclean like food offered to the dead. Your food will only be used to satisfy your hunger; none of it will be brought to the Lord's temple.Select Hosea 9:4

5You will no longer be able to celebrate the festival of the Lord.Select Hosea 9:5

6Even if you escape alive, you will end up in Egypt and be buried in Memphis. Your silver treasures will be lost among weeds; thorns will sprout in your tents.Select Hosea 9:6

7Israel, the time has come. You will get what you deserve, and you will know it. “Prophets are fools,” you say. “And God's messengers are crazy.” Your terrible guilt has filled you with hatred.Select Hosea 9:7

8Israel, the Lord sent me to look after you. But you trap his prophets and flood his temple with your hatred.Select Hosea 9:8

9You are brutal and corrupt, as were the men of Gibeah. But God remembers your sin, and you will be punished.Select Hosea 9:9

Sin's Terrible Results

10Israel, when I, the Lord, found you long ago it was like finding grapes in a barren desert or tender young figs. Then you worshiped Baal Peor, that disgusting idol, and you became as disgusting as the idol you loved.Select Hosea 9:10

11And so, Israel, your glory will fly away like birds— your women will no longer be able to give birth.Select Hosea 9:11

12Even if you do have children, I will take them all and leave you to mourn. I will turn away, and you will sink down in deep trouble.Select Hosea 9:12

13Israel, when I first met you, I thought of you as palm trees growing in fertile ground. Now you lead your people out, only to be slaughtered.Select Hosea 9:13

Hosea's Advice

14Our Lord, do just one thing for your people— make their women unable to have children or to nurse their babies.Select Hosea 9:14

The 's Judgment on Israel

15Israel, I first began to hate you because you did evil at Gilgal. Now I will chase you out of my house. No longer will I love you; your leaders betrayed me.Select Hosea 9:15

16Israel, you are a vine with dried-up roots and fruitless branches. Even if you had more children and loved them dearly, I would slaughter them all.Select Hosea 9:16

Hosea Warns Israel

17Israel, you disobeyed my God. Now he will force you to roam from nation to nation.Select Hosea 9:17