Hosea 9

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

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1Rejoice not, O Israel! Exult not like the peoples; for you have played the harlot, forsaking your God. You have loved a harlot's hire upon all threshing floors.

2Threshing floor and winevat shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail them.

3They shall not remain in the land of the Lord; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria.

4They shall not pour libations of wine to the Lord; and they shall not please him with their sacrifices. Their bread shall be like mourners' bread; all who eat of it shall be defiled; for their bread shall be for their hunger only; it shall not come to the house of the Lord.

5What will you do on the day of appointed festival, and on the day of the feast of the Lord?

6For behold, they are going to Assyria; Egypt shall gather them, Memphis shall bury them. Nettles shall possess their precious things of silver; thorns shall be in their tents.

7The days of punishment have come, the days of recompense have come; Israel shall know it. The prophet is a fool, the man of the spirit is mad, because of your great iniquity and great hatred.

8The prophet is the watchman of Ephraim, the people of my God, yet a fowler's snare is on all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.

9They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibe-ah: he will remember their iniquity, he will punish their sins.

10Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree, in its first season, I saw your fathers. But they came to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Baal, and became detestable like the thing they loved.

11Ephraim's glory shall fly away like a bird— no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!

12Even if they bring up children, I will bereave them till none is left. Woe to them when I depart from them!

13Ephraim's sons, as I have seen, are destined for a prey; Ephraim must lead forth his sons to slaughter.

14Give them, O Lord — what wilt thou give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

15Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal; there I began to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more; all their princes are rebels.

16Ephraim is stricken, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit. Even though they bring forth, I will slay their beloved children.

17My God will cast them off, because they have not hearkened to him; they shall be wanderers among the nations.

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