4:1 Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites! 1
For the Lord has a covenant lawsuit 2 against the people of Israel. 3
For there is neither faithfulness nor loyalty in the land,
nor do they acknowledge God. 4
1:1 5 This is the word of the Lord which was revealed to Hosea 6 son of Beeri during the time when 7 Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah ruled Judah, 8 and during the time when Jeroboam son of Joash 9 ruled Israel. 10
1:2 When the Lord first spoke 11 through 12 Hosea, he 13 said to him, 14 “Go marry 15 a prostitute 16 who will bear illegitimate children conceived through prostitution, 17 because the nation 18 continually commits spiritual prostitution 19 by turning away from 20 the Lord.” 1:3 So Hosea married 21 Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Then she conceived and gave birth to a son for him. 1:4 Then the Lord said to Hosea, 22 “Name him ‘Jezreel,’ because in a little while I will punish 23 the dynasty 24 of Jehu on account of the bloodshed 25 in the valley of Jezreel, 26 and I will put an end to the kingdom 27 of Israel. 28 1:5 At that time, 29 I will destroy the military power 30 of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”
1:6 She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord 31 said to him, “Name her ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah) because I will no longer have pity 32 on the nation 33 of Israel. For 34 I will certainly not forgive 35 their guilt. 36 1:7 But I will have pity on the nation 37 of Judah. 38 I will deliver them by the Lord their God; I will not deliver them by the warrior’s bow, by sword, by military victory, 39 by chariot horses, or by chariots.” 40
1:8 When 41 she had weaned ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah) she conceived again and gave birth to another son. 1:9 Then the Lord 42 said: “Name him ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi), because you 43 are not my people and I am not your 44 God.” 45
1:10 (2:1) 46 However, 47 in the future the number of the people 48 of Israel will be like the sand of the sea which can be neither measured nor numbered. Although 49 it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it will be said to them, “You are 50 children 51 of the living God!” 1:11 Then the people 52 of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, 53 and will flourish in the land. 54 Certainly, 55 the day of Jezreel will be great!