Hosea 9
Open in the reader1Do not rejoice, O Strives-with-God, with exultation like the nations, for you have played the harlot against your God; you have made love for hire on every threshing floor.
2The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them, and the new wine will fail them.
3They will not remain in the land of He-Who-Is; Double-Fruit will return to Two-Straits and eat unclean food in Successful.
4They will not pour out wine offerings to He-Who-Is, and their sacrifices will not please Him, but will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat will be defiled. For their bread will be for themselves; it will not enter the house of He-Who-Is.
5What will you do on the appointed day, on the day of He-Who-Is’s feast?
6For even if they flee destruction, Two-Straits will gather them and Memphis will bury them. Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles, and thorns will overrun their tents.
7The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived— let Strives-with-God know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.
8The prophet is Double-Fruit’s watchman, along with my God, yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths. Hostility is in the house of his God!
9They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of The-Hill; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.
10I found Strives-with-God like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-of-Peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.
11Double-Fruit’s glory will fly away like a bird, with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception.
12Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe be to them when I turn away from them!
13I have seen Double-Fruit, like The-Rock, planted in a meadow. But Double-Fruit will bring out his children for slaughter.
14Give them, O He-Who-Is— what will You give? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that dry up!
15All their evil appears at The-Rolling, for there I hated them. I will drive them from My house for the wickedness of their deeds. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious.
16Double-Fruit is struck down; their root is withered; they cannot bear fruit. Even if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their wombs.
17My God will reject them because they have not obeyed Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.