Hosea

O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.

Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.

Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.

They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.

And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity: Judah also shall fall with them.

They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.

I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.

Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.

The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.

Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.

I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.

They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.