Hosea 9

Punishment for Israel’s Sin

1 Do not celebrate, Israel. Do not get hype like other nations, because you been unfaithful to your God. You loved getting paid off every threshing floor.

2 But the threshing floor and winepress will not feed you, and the new wine will fail you.

3 They will not stay in the LORD’s land. Ephraim going back to Egypt, and in Assyria they will eat unclean food.

4 They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD, and their sacrifices will not please Him. Their food will be like funeral bread, everybody who eats it will be unclean. Their food will only be for themselves, it will not come into the house of the LORD.

5 What are you going to do on the day of your appointed festivals, on the day of the LORD’s feast,

6 Even if they escape destruction, Egypt will gather them, Memphis will bury them. Weeds will take over their silver, thorns will fill their tents.

7 The days of punishment are here, the days of payback have come. Let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, the man of the spirit is called crazy, because your guilt is heavy and your hatred runs deep.

8 The prophet is a watchman over Ephraim with my God, but traps are set for him on all his paths, and hatred is in the house of his God.

9 They have gone as deep into corruption as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their guilt and punish their sins.

Israel Is Coming Exile

10 I found Israel like grapes in the desert. I saw your ancestors like early figs on a fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they dedicated themselves to shame and became as disgusting as what they loved.

11 Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird. No more babies being born, no pregnancies, no conceptions.

12 Even if they raise kids, I will take them away one by one. Disaster to them when I turn away from them.

13 I saw Ephraim like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place. But Ephraim will bring out their children to be slaughtered.

14 Give them, LORD. What should You give, Give them empty wombs and dried-up breasts.

15 All their evil is in Gilgal. That is where I started hating them. Because of their wicked actions, I will drive them out of My house. I will not love them anymore. All their leaders are rebels.

16 Ephraim is struck down, their root is dried up, they will not bear fruit. Even if they give birth, I will kill the children they treasure.

17 My God will reject them because they did not listen to Him. They will wander among the nations.