Hos 9 | BSB | STEP | Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations, for you have played the harlot against your God; you have made love [for] hire on every threshing floor.

Hosea 9

Hosea Announces Israel's Punishment

1 Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations, for you have played the harlot against your God; you have made love [for] hire on every threshing floor. 2 The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them, and the new wine will fail them. 3 They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria. 4 They will not pour out wine [offerings] to the LORD, and their sacrifices will not please Him, [but will be] to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat it will be defiled. For their bread will be for themselves; it will not enter the house of the LORD. 5 What will you do on the appointed day, on the Day of the LORD’s feast? 6 For even if they flee destruction, Egypt will gather them and Memphis will bury them. Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles, [and] thorns [will overrun] their tents. 7 The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived— let Israel know it. The prophet is [called] a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility. 8 The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman, along with my God, ^{▼▼Or The prophet is the watchman over Ephraim, the people of my God} [yet] the snare of the fowler [lies] on all his paths. Hostility is in the house of his God! 9 They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins. 10 I found Israel 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-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved. 11 Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird, with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception. 12 Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe [be] to them when I turn away from them! 13 I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a meadow. But Ephraim will bring out his children for slaughter. 14 Give them, O LORD— what will You give? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that dry up! 15 All their evil appears at Gilgal, 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. 16 Ephraim is struck down; their root is withered; they cannot bear fruit. Even if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their wombs. 17 My God will reject them because they have not obeyed Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.