Hosea 9

1People of Israel, do not celebrate like the other nations. You have been unfaithful to your God. You love the pay of a prostitute on every threshing floor.

2The threshing floors and winepresses will not feed the people. The new wine will fail them.

3They will not stay in the LORD's land. Ephraim will go back to Egypt. The people will eat unclean food in Assyria.

4They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD. Their sacrifices will not please Him. Their food will be like food at a funeral. Everyone who eats it will become unclean. Their bread is only for their own hunger. It will not come into the house of the LORD.

5What will you do on the day of the holy festival? What will you do on the day of the LORD's feast?

6Look, they run away from destruction. Egypt will gather them. Memphis will bury them. Weeds will take over their silver treasures. Thorns will grow in their tents.

7The days of punishment have come. The days of payback have come. Israel will know it. The people say: The prophet is a fool. The man of the Spirit is crazy. They say this because of your many sins and your great hatred.

8The watchman of Ephraim is with my God. But a trap for catching birds is set on all the prophet's paths. There is hatred in the house of his God.

9The people have become deeply sinful, as in the days of Gibeah. God will remember their guilt. God will punish their sins.

10The LORD says: I found Israel like grapes in the desert. I saw your fathers like the first fruit on a fig tree. It was the tree's first season. But they went to Baal Peor. They gave themselves to that shameful idol. They became as hateful as the idol they loved.

11The glory of Ephraim will fly away like a bird. There will be no births, no pregnancies, and no children conceived.

12Even if they raise children, I will take every child away. Not one person will be left. How terrible it will be for them when I leave them.

13I saw Ephraim like the city of Tyre, planted in a pleasant place. But Ephraim will bring out his children to the killer.

14Hosea prayed: LORD, what will You give them? Give them wombs that lose their babies. Give them dry breasts.

15The LORD says: All their evil began at Gilgal. There I came to hate them. Because of their evil deeds, I will drive them out of My house. I will love them no more. All their leaders are rebels.

16Ephraim is struck down. Its root is dried up. It will bear no fruit. Even if they have children, I will kill the children they love.

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