Hosea 1

1 The word of the LORD that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

The Lord’s message to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah and during the reign of King Jeroboam, son of Joash of Israel.

2 The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take to thee a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry: for the land hath committed great harlotry, departing from the LORD.

When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, he said to him: “Go marry an unfaithful woman who will bear you children by her adultery, for like an adulterous wife the land is unfaithful to the Lord.”

3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; who conceived, and bore him a son.

So he married Gomer, the daughter of Dibliam, and when she conceived and bore him a son,

4 And the LORD said to him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

the Lord said: “Call him ‘Jezreel,’ for in a little while I will punish the dynasty of Jehu for the blood shed at the valley of Jezreel, I will cause the kingdom of Israel to cease.

5 And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.

On that day, I will break Israel’s bows and arrows in the valley of Jezreel.”

6 And she conceived again, and bore a daughter. And God said to him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.

When she conceived again and bore a daughter, the Lord said to Hosea: “Call her Lo-Ruhamah – ‘No-Compassion’ for I will no longer have compassion on Israel, certainly not spare them.

7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

But on Judah I will have compassion, I will deliver them by the Lord their God, but I will not deliver them by bow nor by sword, nor by battle nor by horses nor by horsemen.”

8 Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bore a son.

After she had weaned No-Compassion, and when she conceived and bore a son, he said:

9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

“Call him Lo-Ammi – ‘Not-My-People’ for you, Israel, are not my people, and I indeed am not your God.”

10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said to them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

Yet the number of the Israelites will be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted, and where they were told, “You are not my people,” they will be called, “children of the living God.”

11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up from the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

The Judeans and the Israelites will join together again, will appoint for themselves one leader, will return to their own land. Great will be the day of Jezreel!