Hosea 9:10-17 (Sunday Morning Reading)

Hos. 9:10    Like 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 the thing of shame,

and became detestable like the thing they loved.

11 Ephraim’s glory shall fly away like a bird—

no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!

12 Even if they bring up children,

I will bereave them till none is left.

Woe to them

when I depart from them!

13 Ephraim, as I have seen, was like a young palm planted in a meadow;

but Ephraim must lead his children out to slaughter.

14 Give them, O LORD—

what will you give?

Give them a miscarrying womb

and dry breasts.

Hos. 9:15    Every 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.

Hos. 9:16    Ephraim is stricken;

their root is dried up;

they shall bear no fruit.

Even though they give birth,

I will put their beloved children to death.

17 My God will reject them

because they have not listened to him;

they shall be wanderers among the nations.