The Abridged Book of Hosea

1:1. God spoke to Hosea, son of Beeri, during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah, and Jeroboam son of Joash was king of Israel.

1:2. God first spoke through Hosea and told him to marry a woman unfaithful in relationships because the people had been unfaithfully turning away from God.

1:3. Hosea married Gomer, daughter of Diblaim; she became pregnant and had a son.

1:4. God told Hosea to name the boy Jezreel because soon God was going to punish the family of Jehu for their violence at Jezreel and bring an end to Israel's power.

1:5. God planned to destroy Israel's military strength in the valley of Jezreel.

1:6. Gomer had another child, this time a daughter. God told Hosea to name her Loruhamah as a sign that God would no longer show forgiveness to Israel or spare them.

1:7. However, God would still show compassion to Judah and save them - not through war or weapons, but through divine intervention by their own God.

1:8. After weaning Loruhamah, Gomer had another son.

1:9. Then God said this son should be named Loammi because Israel was no longer accepted as Gods people nor would they be cared for by their deity.

1:10. Even so, the descendants of Israel would grow in number like sands on the seashore—immeasurable—and in those very places where it was said they were not valued by God will come a time where they'll be called children of the living God.

1:11. The people from both Judah and Israel will come together under one leader, overcome their adversities, because there will be cause for great celebration when they return from exile in glorious triumph.

2:1. Tell your brothers, "Ammi," and your sisters, "Ruhamah."

2:2. Talk to your mother. She isn't behaving as my partner, and I am not acting as her partner. Tell her to stop her unfaithful behavior and affairs.

2:3. If not, I might expose and shame her, leaving her barren like a desert and without any life or comfort.

2:4. Because of her actions, I cannot care for her children who are born from these affairs.

2:5. Their mother has been unfaithful and dishonored herself by chasing after those who she thinks provide for her needs like food, clothes, and other basics.

2:6. So, I'm going to block her way with obstacles so she can't find the path she's searching for.

2:7. She will look for these lovers but won't find them; then she'll want to come back to her first partner, realizing life was better before.

2:8. She didn't understand that it was me who provided for all of her needs like food, drinks, and wealth – not the idols she chased after like Baal.

2:9. So, I will take back the grain I provided at harvest time and the wine I gave in its right season; also, I will take back the wool and linen that were meant to clothe her.

2:10. Now, I will expose her true nature in front of those she cares for, and there will be no one to save her from me.

2:11. Moreover, I'll put an end to all her happiness—her festivals, monthly celebrations, weekly rest days, and all her other important feasts.

2:12. And I'll ruin the grapevines and fig trees she took pride in—the gifts she believed came from others—and let wild animals eat them up.

2:13. And I'll confront her for all of those times dedicated to chasing other gods when she burned aromatic incense as an offering to them. She put on her beautiful earrings and jewelry only to chase after those relationships while forgetting about me, God declares.

2:14. So watch what I do next: I'm going to win her back by leading her into a quiet place in the desert and speak kindly to her heart.

2:15. From there, she can have vineyards again, and I'll give her hope like when we first began. Then she’ll be joyful as she was when she was young, like on the day when we started our journey together out of Egypt.

2:16. On that day—so says God—you’ll refer to me as your partner; you won't call me by the old names you associated with my past anger.

2:17. I will put an end to the worship of the Baalim idols, and they will be forgotten.

2:18. On that day, I'll make peace between the humans and the wild animals, birds, and insects. I'll remove all weapons and conflict from the land, allowing everyone to live in safety.

2:19. I promise to commit myself to you forever; I'll be just, fair, caring, and compassionate in our relationship.

2:20. I will be completely faithful to you: you will come to recognize God.

2:21. When that day arrives, God says they will respond to the prayers of humans; heaven will listen to earth,

2:22. And Earth will provide grain, wine, and oil; these in turn will support the people of Jezreel.

2:23. I will cultivate a strong relationship with my people; I'll show kindness even to those who have not known kindness before. And I’ll acknowledge everyone who didn't consider themselves as my followers - they too will affirm their connection with God.

3:1. God told me to love a woman even though she was in a relationship with a friend and unfaithful, to show how God loves the people of Israel even when they are unfaithful and pursue other gods and pleasures.

3:2. So I took her as mine for fifteen pieces of silver, and a homer and a half of barley.

3:3. I told her she would have to stay with me for a long time, not be intimate with others or take another partner; in return, I would also stay committed to her.

3:4. Just like that, the Israelites will have to live for a long time without a king or leader, without making sacrifices or keeping religious statues or special garments.

3:5. But eventually, the Israelites will turn back and look for God and for a leader from David's line; they'll be in awe of God's kindness in future times.

4:1. Listen to God's message, all you people of Israel: God has an issue with everyone living in the country because truth, kindness, and understanding of God are missing from the land.

4:2. People are behaving terribly; they're dishonest, hurtful, thieves and unfaithful in their relationships. One violent act follows another, it's like there's a chain of harm.

4:3. Because of this, the land will grieve, and everyone living there will be weak and sad. This includes all the animals on land, the birds in the sky, and even the fish in the sea will disappear.

4:4. But don’t try to blame or correct each other: for your own people are arguing even with those who lead your religious practices.

4:5. For this reason, you're going to suffer during the day, and your spiritual guides will suffer with you at night—and I'm going to put an end to what defines you as my people.

4:6. My people are vanishing because they don't understand; because you've ignored what I tried to teach you, I'll ignore you too. Since you've forgotten what your God has told you, I'll act like I've forgotten your children.

4:7. The more they grew in number and success, the more they acted against me; so I'll replace their pride with disgrace.

4:8. These leaders feed on my people's misguided acts and get pleasure from seeing them continue down a bad path.

4:9. Everyone including the leaders will pay for how they’ve lived; I'll react to them based on their own actions.

4:10. They think satisfaction comes from chasing selfish desires but it won’t fill their hunger or help them grow because they’ve turned away from paying attention to God’s directions.

4:11. Promiscuity, alcohol, and strong drink diminish clear thinking.

4:12. My people seek guidance from wood carvings or interpret cues from their walking sticks, as infidelity has led them astray, and they act unfaithfully toward their God.

4:13. They make sacrifices on mountain peaks and burn fragrant plants on the hills, amongst oak, poplar, and elm trees that offer pleasant shade: as a result, your daughters act promiscuously, and your partners are unfaithful.

4:14. I will not hold your daughters accountable when they act promiscuously or your partners when they are unfaithful, because they are involved with prostitutes and join them in rituals; hence those who lack understanding will stumble.

4:15. Although you engage in promiscuity, Israel, let not Judah become guilty; don't visit Gilgal or go up to Bethaven, nor claim allegiance in the name of the enduring God.

4:16. Israel is stubborn like a stubborn calf; now God will let them graze freely like a lamb in a spacious field.

4:17. Ephraim is bound to useless idols; so leave him be.

4:18. Their celebrations have turned bitter; their rulers shamelessly love disgraceful behavior.

4:19. Ephraim will be swept up by misfortune as if carried by the wind's wings – they will feel humiliated because of their empty rituals.

5:1. Listen to this message, all you priests, pay attention, you people of Israel; leaders, too, you better listen – you are all in trouble for trapping people at Mizpah and for being like hunters waiting to catch them at Tabor.

5:2. Some of you are experts at causing harm, even though I have warned everyone to stop.

5:3. I see everything Ephraim does; nothing Israel does is hidden from me: Ephraim, you have cheated on me, and the people of Israel are no longer clean.

5:4. They don't plan to change their ways or come back to me because they are obsessed with cheating on me, and they don't even know me anymore.

5:5. Israel's arrogance stands out clearly; as a result, both Israel and Ephraim will stumble because they've done wrong – Judah will fall with them too.

5:6. When they go looking for God with their livestock ready for sacrifice; it will be no use – God has turned away from them.

5:7. They were disloyal to God by not being true parents to their own children: soon they will be destroyed along with what they own.

5:8. Ring the horn in Gibeah and the trumpet in Ramah; make a loud call at Bethaven; Benjamin, watch out behind you!

5:9. Ephraim will become a wasteland when I correct them, and I have already declared to the tribes of Israel what will most definitely happen.

5:10. The leaders of Judah have crossed the boundaries; because of this, I will release my anger on them like a flood.

5:11. Ephraim is mistreated and suffers unfair treatment because they chose to follow human instructions instead of mine.

5:12. I will cause decay to Ephraim and wear down the strength of Judah like a moth damages clothing and rot consumes wood.

5:13. When Ephrain realized their poor condition and Judah noticed their injury, Ephraim turned to the Assyrian king Jareb for help, but he was powerless to fix their troubles or heal their injuries.

5:14. I will attack Ephraim like a lion, and likewise, I’ll pounce on the house of Judah: I’ll capture and no one will be able to save them from my grip.

5:15. I will leave them alone until they realize their wrongs and look for me again: when they are in distress, they'll earnestly search for me.

6:1. Let's go back to God. God has hurt us, but God will also heal us; God has hit us, but God will take care of our wounds.

6:2. In two days, God will bring us back to life; on the third day, God will lift us up, and we will be able to see God.

6:3. If we keep trying to understand God, then we will understand. God's appearance is as sure as the sunrise; and God will come to us like the refreshing rains that water the earth.

6:4. Ephraim and Judah, I don't know what to do with you because your commitment is as unreliable as the morning fog or the dew that disappears early.

6:5. So I have used prophets to correct you; the words I spoke have struck you down, and the punishment was clear as daylight.

6:6. Because I prefer acts of love and understanding of God over ritual offerings.

6:7. But they have broken my agreement just like humans often do; they have betrayed me.

6:8. Gilead is a city full of those who do wrong and is stained with acts of violence.

6:9. Just as robbers lie in wait for someone to attack, groups of priests commit crimes together; they are deeply immoral.

6:10. I have witnessed a terrible thing in Israel: Ephraim is involved in corrupt practices and Israel has been made impure by these actions.

6:11. Judah, there's a time coming when you'll harvest good things because I will bring back my people from their difficult times.

7:1. When I wanted to heal Israel, then the wrongdoings of Ephraim came to light, along with the problems in Samaria: they are dishonest, robbers break in, and gangs steal openly.

7:2. And they do not think in their hearts that I remember all their bad actions; now what they have done surrounds them; it's always right in front of me.

7:3. They please the king with their bad actions, and make the leaders happy with their dishonesty.

7:4. They are all unfaithful, like a hot oven that a baker stops stoking once the dough is mixed until it rises.

7:5. On our king's feast day, the leaders made him sick with too much wine; he joined in with those who make fun of others.

7:6. Their hearts are like an oven that they keep hot while they plan secretly; their plotting goes on all night and by morning it blazes like fire.

7:7. They get as hot as an oven and consume their judges; all of their rulers have fallen; none of them calls out to me for help.

7:8. Ephraim has mixed with other people and has become like a half-baked cake.

7:9. Outsiders have slowly weakened his power without him realizing it; even signs of age are appearing, and he's unaware.

7:10. The arrogance of Israel's people confronts them directly, yet they don't turn back to God, nor do they look for God despite what’s happening.

7:11. The people of Ephraim are like thoughtless pigeons: they randomly turn to other nations for help, sometimes Egypt, other times Assyria.

7:12. When they move, I will catch them like a bird; I will knock them down as birds from the sky; I will punish them as they have been warned before.

7:13. How terrible it is for them! They have turned away from me and are headed towards their own ruin because they have betrayed me—even though I saved them, they continue to deceive and blame me.

7:14. They don't sincerely ask for my help; instead, they moan in their discomfort: they come together only when they want food and drink but continue to defy me.

7:15. Although I have given them strength and support, they still plan harm against me.

7:16. They may seem to change their ways but do not sincerely return to God; they are unreliable. Their leaders will suffer severe consequences dueo their harmful words; this will become a cause for mockery among the people of Egypt.

8:1. Blow the trumpet loud. God will swoop down like an eagle on the house of the LORD because they have broken their promise and ignored God's rules.

8:2. The people of Israel will call out to me, "My God, we recognize you."

8:3. Israel has rejected what is good, and now enemies will chase them.

8:4. They chose their own leaders without my approval; they chose their leaders without letting me know. Using their wealth, they created idols which will lead to their own downfall.

8:5. Your idol, Samaria, has caused you trouble; I am angry with them: how long until they become pure again?

8:6. This idol came from Israel—it was made by human hands so it's not a god at all; this idol of Samaria will be destroyed.

8:7. They planted useless seeds, and they'll get a useless harvest; there won’t be any grain to harvest: and if there is some grain, it will be consumed by outsiders.

8:8. Israel has been absorbed; now they will be unimportant among other nations, like an unwanted item.

8:9. Because they turned to Assyria for help, like a wild donkey off on its own, Ephraim has paid foreign allies for support.

8:10. Even though they've sought support from different nations, I will bring them back together. They will feel a bit of pain because of the toll demanded by foreign rulers.

8:11. Because Ephraim built many altars for wrongdoings, those altars will become a symbol of their mistakes.

8:12. I taught them my important teachings, but they considered them foreign and ignored them.

8:13. They sacrifice meat for their rituals and eat it; however, God does not accept their practices. Now God will consider their wrongdoings and make them face the consequences; they will live through hard times again as if they were in Egypt.

8:14. Israel has forgotten its creator and built temples for worshiping; similarly, Judah has built many strong cities: but I'll send destruction on those cities that will consume even the luxurious buildings within them.

9:1. Don't celebrate, Israel, like other nations might, because you've been unfaithful to God, chasing after rewards for your harvests.

9:2. The grain and the wine won't sustain you, and you'll run out of fresh wine.

9:3. You won't be allowed to live in God's land anymore; instead, you will go back to Egypt and eat food that's not acceptable there.

9:4. You won't be able to bring wine as a gift to God anymore; God won't be pleased with your offerings. They will be like food for a funeral; anyone who eats it will be considered impure. This food will not be brought into God's house.

9:5. What will you do when it’s time for the religious festivals and celebrations dedicated to God?

9:6. Look, your city is about to be destroyed: Egypt will take your people away, Memphis will bury them. Your cherished homes will be overrun by weeds; prickly bushes will take over your tents.

9:7. The time has come for you to face the consequences of your actions; Israel will understand this: the prophets are acting foolishly, those who are spiritual are going mad because their harmful acts are many and their hostility is great.

9:8. The scout for Ephraim was aligned with my God; but the prophet has become like a trap in your journey, spreading animosity in the place where you worship your God.

9:9. They've terribly messed up everything they are about—just like what happened in Gibeah long ago—so God is going to remember their wrongs and punish them for what they've done wrong.

9:10. When I encountered Israel, they were like delicious grapes found unexpectedly in the desert; their ancestors seemed like the premium, first-ripened figs. However, they chose to follow Baalpeor and embraced disgraceful behavior; they acted on their attachments that led them away from the right path.

9:11. As for the people of Ephraim, whatever honor and distinction they have will vanish as quickly as a bird flies away - from the time of birth, through pregnancy to conception.

9:12. No matter how much they care for their children, I will leave them childless - no one will be left. Their future will be filled with sorrow when I turn away from them.

9:13. Ephraim is in a situation as promising as the prosperous city of Tyre once was, but despite this, they are doomed to loss because those who should help will actually cause harm.

9:14. Oh God, what can You give them? Leave them barren and unable to nurse.

9:15. They have become thoroughly corrupt in Gilgal; it's there that I started to despise them. Due to their corrupt actions, I'll force them out of my community and no longer show affection for them; their leaders have all gone astrignay.

9:16. Ephraim’s strength is broken; its vitality has withered away - they won’t produce any more youth. Even if they have children, I'll put an end to those who were once dear to them.

9:17. God will reject them because they didn't listen to God's guidance: consequentially, they'll be homeless outcasts scattered among many countries.

10:1. Israel is like a vine that cannot produce anything worthwhile; it only creates things for its own benefit. The more it prospers, the more altars it builds; the richer the land, the more beautiful its statues become.

10:2. The people are divided in their loyalty; they will be held responsible. God will destroy their altars and ruin their statues.

10:3. They will admit that they have no king because they didn't honor God; without respect for God, they wonder what a king could do for them anyway.

10:4. They've said things they don't mean and promised what they won't keep, leading to unfair outcomes growing wildly like poisonous weeds in a field.

10:5. People living in Samaria will be scared because of the golden calves worshipped there: the whole community will grieve for them, especially the priests who used to celebrate them, all because their false grandeur is long gone.

10:6. The ornaments will even be sent to Assyria as a gift for King Jareb: Ephraim will feel humiliation, and Israel will regret following its own bad advice.

10:7. Regarding Samaria's leadership, it’s as if its king disappears like foam on water – here one moment and gone the next without a trace.

10:8. The religious high places of Bethaven, which cause Israel to stray, will be ruined: overgrown with thorns and thistles on its altars; people will beg the mountains and hills to hide or crush them under their weight.

10:9. O people of Israel, you have done wrong since the old days of Gibeah, yet there you stood firm: even when violence occurred in Gibareth against those performing bad actions, it didn’t happen to you.

10:10. I want to correct your behavior; and there will come a time when nations come together against you as you continue on your mistaken path.

10:11. And the tribe of Ephraim is like a young cow trained to work the grain; but though she was beautiful and hardworking, I will give her more work. The tribe of Judah will take on a role like plowing, and the people of Jacob will prepare their fields.

10:12. Plant good deeds and harvest kindness; prepare your neglected land for farming: it's time to look for God, until God showers you with goodness.

10:13. You have followed harmful ways and have gathered consequences; you have accepted falsehoods: this is what happens when you rely on yourselves and your own strength.

10:14. As a result, there will be chaos among your people; all your strongholds will be as destroyed as the time Shalman utterly wrecked Betharbel during the fight: when mothers were violently killed alongside their children.

10:15. This destruction will come upon you due to your severe wrongdoings: one day soon, the king of Israel will be completely taken down.

11:1. When Israel was young, I loved him and brought my child out of Egypt.

11:2. But when they were called to follow a different path, they chose instead to offer sacrifices to other gods and to burn incense before idols.

11:3. I led Ephraim by the hand, aiding them; yet they didn't realize it was I who took care of their wounds.

11:4. I led them gently, with kindness and love; as one who removes heavy burdens from their shoulders, and I provided them with food.

11:5. They will not go back to Egypt, but they will be ruled by the Assyrian because they refused to change their ways.

11:6. Violence will haunt their cities and destroy their communities because they relied on their own flawed plans.

11:7. My people keep turning away from me even when they're called toward the highest good, no one seems to care much about lifting others up.

11:8. I'm torn about what to do with you, Ephraim, and you, Israel. How can I let you go? How can I treat you like cities that were destroyed? My emotions are all mixed up, and I feel regretful.

11:9. Despite my upset, I won't let my anger take over or wipe out Ephraim again because I am God, not a human; the loving divine presence in your midst—I won't bring the wrath into your city.

11:10. My expectation is for them to follow along with God's path. God shall make their presence known powerfully like a lion's roar – and when this happens, people will be in awe all over.

11:11. The people will return in a state of nervous excitement from the west like a bird fleeing Egypt or a bird darting away from Assyria; and I will return them safely to their homes – this is what God has said.

11:12. Ephraim surrounds me with dishonesty and the house of Israel deceives; yet Judah stays strong with God and maintains loyalty among those devoted to holiness.

12:1. Ephraim is chasing after things that won't help, like chasing the wind from the east: they keep making up stories and causing ruin; they're allying with foreign powers like Assyria, and even trading olive oil with Egypt.

12:2. God is upset with Judah too and plans to deal with Jacob based on how he's behaved; Jacob will face consequences that match what he's done.

12:3. He grabbed his brother's heel while still in their mother’s womb, and as an adult, he struggled and connected with God.

12:4. He even struggled with an angel and won; he cried and begged for favor: he met God in Bethel, where God spoke to us.

12:5. This was the one true God of infinite power; the name of God should be remembered.

12:6. So you should turn back to your God: act with compassion and fairness, and rely on your God at all times.

12:7. Some people are unfair traders, using dishonest scales: they love to take advantage of others.

12:8. Ephraim boasts, "I am wealthy and have earned everything on my own." They believe that no one can accuse them of wrongdoing or doing harm.

12:9. But God, who has been with you since the escape from Egypt, promises to again have you live in tents during the festival period as you did in those early days.

12:10. God has sent messages through the prophets, given many visions, and taught lessons through parables using the prophets.

12:11. Can there be anything meaningful in GIDean's actions? No, they are pointless. They offer sacrifices at Gilgal, and their altars are piled up like stones cleared from a plowed field.

12:12. Remember how Jacob escaped to the land of Aram; there he earned a wife by tending sheep.

12:13. Likewise, God led Israel out of Egypt with the help of a prophet and ensured Israel's survival through that same prophet.

12:14. But Ephraim's actions have caused deep anger; their offenses shall be on them, and they will face scorn from God for what they've done.

13:1. When Ephraim spoke with fear, they were respected in Israel, but after they did wrong by worshiping Baal, they faced downfall.

13:2. And now they continue to do wrong, creating statues from their silver and carving idols based on their limited imaginations—all of it made by skilled workers. They even tell those who offer sacrifices to show reverence to these statues of calves.

13:3. Because of this, they will disappear as quickly as a cloud in the morning or dew that evaporates early on, like straw scattered by a strong wind or smoke that disperses from a chimney.

13:4. Remember that I am your God who led you out of Egypt, and you should recognize no other God apart from me: because no one else can save you.

13:5. It was I who knew you in your struggles through the barren desert.

13:6. When they had plenty to eat and were satisfied, they became full of themselves and forgot about me.

13:7. That's why I will confront them with the strength of a lion; like a leopard lying in wait by the road.

13:8. I will pounce on them like a mother bear robbed of her cubs and tear open the core of their being; there I will consume them with the ferocity of a lion: wild animals will demolish them.

13:9. O Israel, you've caused your own downfall, yet you can find your help in me.

13:10. I will act as your ruler: does anyone else have the power to rescue you in all your cities? And where are the leaders you once demanded, saying, "We want a king and noble leaders?"

13:11. In my anger, I gave you a king, and in my displeasure, I took that king away.

13:12. The wrongdoings of Ephraim are stored up; they are hidden away.

13:13. Intense pain like that of a woman in childbirth shall strike him: he is shortsighted for he fails to understand that staying too long can be harmful.

13:14. I will save them from the hold of death; I will reclaim them from its grip: O death, I will bring your plagues; O grave, I will cause your ruin: my decision to save is irreversible.

13:15. Even if he thrives among his peers, a destructive wind will blow in from the east, sent by God from the desert—it shall dry up his water source and wither his flow: he shall lose all his valuable possessions.

13:16. Samaria shall be left in ruins because it rebelled against God: its people shall be defeated violently; their young children shall be violently killed and expectant mothers catastrophically harmed.

14:1. Israel, come back to God because you have made mistakes that have caused your downfall.

14:2. Bring your heartfelt words and turn back to God; ask God to forgive your mistakes and accept you kindly; then we will praise God with our words.

14:3. We won't look to other nations for our salvation, nor rely on our own strength or creations; we acknowledge that only with God do those who are alone find compassion.

14:4. God will fix what's been damaged about us, and love us without expecting anything in return; because God's frustration has subsided.

14:5. God will be like refreshing dew to Israel: you will blossom beautifully like a lily, putting down strong roots like the famous trees of Lebanon.

14:6. You will flourish and spread out, your beauty shining like an olive tree and smelling as fragrant as the forests of Lebanon.

14:7. People who live in your presence will come back; they'll find new life and prosper like grain fields and grapevines with a fragrance as pleasant as the wines of Lebanon.

14:8. The people of Ephraim will turn away from idol worship realizing that they've heard from God themselves, confidently like a lush pine tree which offers fruitful presence.

14:9. Those who are wise should understand these concepts; those with insight should recognize their truth, because following the ways of God leads to righteousness, while those who deviate from this path will stumble and fall.