Hosea 10

• 1. Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones.
• 2. Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones.
• 3. Then they will say, "We have no king because we did not revere the LORD. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?"
• 4. They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.
• 5. The people who live in Samaria fear for the calf-idol of Beth Aven. Its people will mourn over it, and so will its idolatrous priests, those who had rejoiced over its splendor, because it is taken from them into exile.
• 6. It will be carried to Assyria as tribute for the great king. Ephraim will be disgraced; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.
• 7. Samaria and its king will float away like a twig on the surface of the waters.
• 8. The high places of wickedness will be destroyed- it is the sin of Israel. Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, "Cover us!" and to the hills, "Fall on us!"
• 9. "Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not war overtake the evildoers in Gibeah?
• 10. When I please, I will punish them; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bonds for their double sin.
• 11. Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground.
• 12. Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
• 13. But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors,
• 14. the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated- as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.
• 15. Thus will it happen to you, O Bethel, because your wickedness is great. When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.

Hosea 11

• 1. "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
• 2. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.
• 3. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.
• 4. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.
• 5. "Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent?
• 6. Swords will flash in their cities, will destroy the bars of their gates and put an end to their plans.
• 7. My people are determined to turn from me. Even if they call to the Most High, he will by no means exalt them.
• 8. "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
• 9. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man- the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.
• 10. They will follow the LORD; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.
• 11. They will come trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria. I will settle them in their homes," declares the LORD.
• 12. Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit. And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful Holy One.

Hosea 12

• 1. Ephraim feeds on the wind; he pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence. He makes a treaty with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.
• 2. The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.
• 3. In the womb he grasped his brother's heel; as a man he struggled with God.
• 4. He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there-
• 5. the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is his name of renown!
• 6. But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.
• 7. The merchant uses dishonest scales; he loves to defraud.
• 8. Ephraim boasts, "I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin."
• 9. "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed feasts.
• 10. I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them."
• 11. Is Gilead wicked? Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field.
• 12. Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep.
• 13. The LORD used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him.
• 14. But Ephraim has bitterly provoked him to anger; his Lord will leave upon him the guilt of his bloodshed and will repay him for his contempt.

New International Version: 302 of 324 days.