Punishment for Israel
Hosea 9, verse 1. Rejoice not, O Israel, Neither make merry, as other peoples, For you have gone a-whoring from your God. You have loved for hire Upon every threshing floor of wheat. Hosea 9, verse 2. The threshing floor and winepress did not know them, And the wine disappointed them. Hosea 9, verse 3. They did not dwell in the Lord's land. Ephraim dwelt in Egypt, And they shall eat unclean things among the Assyrians. Hosea 9, verse 4. They have not offered wine to the Lord, Neither have their sacrifices been pleasing to Him, But like the mourning bread to them. All that eat shall be defiled Because their bread shall be for their own life; It shall not come into the house of the Lord. Hosea 9, verse 5. What will you do in the day of public festival And in the day of the Lord's feast? Hosea 9, verse 6. Therefore, behold, they go forth from the trouble of Egypt. Memphis shall receive them And Machmas shall bury them. As for their silver, destruction shall inherit it, And thorns shall be in their tents. Hosea 9, verse 7. The days of vengeance have come; The days of your recompense have come; And Israel shall be afflicted As the prophet that is mad, as a man deranged. By reason of the multitude of your wrongdoings Your madness has abounded. Hosea 9, verse 8. The watchman of Ephraim was with God, But the prophet is a crooked snare in all his ways. They have planted the madness firmly In the house of God. Hosea 9, verse 9. They have corrupted themselves As in the days of Gibeah. He will remember his wrongdoings; He will take vengeance on his sins. Hosea 9, verse 10. “I found Israel as grapes in the wilderness, And I saw their fathers as an early guard at their fig tree. They went in to Baal Peor And were shamefully estranged; And the beloved ones became abominable. Hosea 9, verse 11. The glory of Ephraim has flown away as a bird: Their glories from birth, birth-pains, and conception. Hosea 9, verse 12. For even if they should rear their children, Yet they shall be utterly bereaved. For woe to them! My flesh is of them. Hosea 9, verse 13. Ephraim, even as I saw, Presented their children as a prey; Ephraim was ready to bring out his children to slaughter.” Hosea 9, verse 14. Give to them, O Lord! What will You give to them? A childless womb and dry breasts. Hosea 9, verse 15. “All their evils are in Gilgal, For there I hated them. Because of their evil practices, I will cast them out of My house. I will not love them any more. All their leaders are disobedient. Hosea 9, verse 16. Ephraim underwent trouble; He is dried up at his roots; He shall bear fruit no more. Wherefore, even if they should beget children, I would kill the desired fruit of their womb.” Hosea 9, verse 17. God shall reject them Because they have not hearkened to Him. So they shall be wanderers among the nations.