Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 45
9:14–10:5
H osea
O Lord, what should I request for your people?
I will ask for wombs that don’t give birth
and breasts that give no milk.
The Lord says, “All their wickedness began at Gilgal;
there I began to hate them.
I will drive them from my land
because of their evil actions.
I will love them no more
because all their leaders are rebels.
The people of Israel are struck down.
Their roots are dried up,
and they will bear no more fruit.
And if they give birth,
I will slaughter their beloved children.”
My God will reject the people of Israel
because they will not listen or obey.
They will be wanderers,
homeless among the nations.
How prosperous Israel is—
a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit.
But the richer the people get,
the more pagan altars they build.
The more bountiful their harvests,
the more beautiful their sacred pillars.
The hearts of the people are fickle;
they are guilty and must be punished.
The Lord will break down their altars
and smash their sacred pillars.
Then they will say, “We have no king
because we didn’t fear the Lord.
But even if we had a king,
what could he do for us anyway?”
They spout empty words
and make covenants they don’t intend to keep.
So injustice springs up among them
like poisonous weeds in a farmer’s field.
The people of Samaria tremble in fear
for their calf idol at Beth-aven,
and they mourn for it.
33
