Hosea 12

1 All day long Israel chases wind from the desert;
deceit and violence
are found everywhere.
Treaties are made with Assyria;
olive oil is taken to Egypt.

Israel and Judah Condemned

2 2The Lord also brings charges against the people of Judah,
the descendants of Jacob.
He will punish them
for what they have done.

3 t3Even before Jacob was born, he cheated his brother, t and when he grew up,
he fought against God. t

4 t4At Bethel, Jacob wrestled with an angel and won;
then with tears in his eyes,
he asked for a blessing,
and God spoke to ust there.

5 God’s name is the Lord, the Lord God All-Powerful.

6 So return to your God. Patiently trust him,
and show love and justice.

7 Israel, you enjoy cheating and taking advantage
of others.

8 You say to yourself, “I’m rich! I earned it all on my own,
without committing a sin.” t

The Lord is Still the God of Israel

9 t9Israel, I, the Lord, am still your God,
just as I have been
since the time
you were in Egypt.
Now I will force you
to live in tents once again,
as you did in the desert. t

10 I spoke to the prophets— often I spoke in visions.
And so, I will send my prophets
with messages of doom.

11 Gilead is terribly sinful and will end up ruined.
Bulls are sacrificed in Gilgal
on altars made of stones,
but those stones will be scattered
in every field.

12 t12Jacobt escaped to Syria t where he tended sheep
to earn himself a wife.

13 t13I sent the prophet Moses to lead Israel from Egypt
and to keep them safe.

14 Israel, I will make you pay for your terrible sins
and for insulting me.

Hosea 13

Israel is Doomed

1  The Lord said: When your leaderst spoke, everyone in Israel trembled
and showed great respect.
But you sinned by worshiping Baal,
and you were destroyed.

2 Now you continue to sin by designing and making
idols of silver
in the shape of calves.
You are told to sacrifice
to these idols t — yes, even to kiss them.

3 And so, all of you will vanish like the mist or the dew
of early morning,
or husks of grain in the wind
or smoke from a chimney.

4 I, the Lord, have been your God since the time
you were in Egypt.
I am the only God you know,
the only one who can save.

5 t5I took care of you in a thirsty desert. t

6 I fed you till you were satisfied, then you became proud
and forgot about me.

7 Now I will attack like a lion, ambush you like a leopard,

8 and rip you apart like a bear robbed of her cubs.
I will gnaw on your bones,
as though I were a lion
or some other wild animal.

9 Israel, you are done for. Don’t expect help from me. t

10 t10You wanted a king and rulers. Where is your king now?
What cities have rulers?

11 t11In my anger, I gave you a king; in my fury, I took him away.

Israel’s Terrible Fate

12  The Lord said: 12Israel, your terrible sins
are written down
and stored away.

13 You are like a senseless child who refuses to be born
at the proper time.

14 t14Should I, the Lord, rescue you from death and the grave?
No! I call death and the grave
to strike you like a plague.
I refuse to show mercy.

15 No matter how much you prosper more than the other tribes, t I, the Lord, will wipe you out, just as a scorching desert wind
dries up streams of water.
I will take away
your precious treasures.

16 Samariat will be punished for turning against me.
It will be destroyed in war—
children will be beaten
against rocks,
and pregnant women
will be ripped open.

Hosea 14

Turn Back to the Lord

1 Israel, return! Come back
to the Lord, your God. Sin has made you fall.

2 Return to the Lord and say, “Please forgive our sins.
Accept our good sacrifices
of praise instead of bulls. t
3 Assyria can’t save us, and chariots can’t help.
So we will no longer worship
the idols we have made.
Our Lord, you show mercy to orphans.”

The Lord Promises to Forgive

4 4Israel, you have rejected me,
but my anger is gone;
I will heal you and love you
without limit.

5 I will be like the dew— then you will blossom like lilies
and have roots like a tree. t

6 Your branches will spread with the beauty
of an olive tree
and with the aroma
of Lebanon Forest.

7 You will rest in my shade, and your grain will grow.
You will blossom
like a vineyard
and be famous as the wine
from Lebanon.

8 Israel, give up your idols! I will answer your prayers
and take care of you. t I am that glorious tree,
the source of your fruit. t
9 If you are wise, you will know and understand what I mean.
I am the Lord, and I lead you along the right path.
If you obey me,
we will walk together,
but if you are wicked,
you will stumble.