Chapter 9
001
Don't rejoice, Israel, to jubilation like the nations; for you were unfaithful to your God. You love the wages of a philanderer at every grain threshing floor.
002
The threshing floor and the winepress won't feed them, and the new wine will fail him.
003
They won't dwell in Yahweh's land; but Ephraim will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in Assyria.
004
They won't pour out wine offerings to Yahweh, neither will they be pleasing to her. Their sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat of it will be polluted; for their bread will be for their appetite. It will not come into the house of Yahweh.
005
What will you do in the day of solemn assembly, and in the day of the feast of Yahweh?
006
For, behold, they have gone away from destruction. Egypt will gather them up. Memphis will bury them. Nettles will possess their pleasant things of silver. Thorns will be in their tents.
007
The days of visitation have come. The days of reckoning have come. Israel will consider the prophetess to be a fool, and the woman who is inspired to be insane, because of the abundance of your sins, and because your hostility is great.
008
A prophetess watches over Ephraim with my God. A fowler's snare is on all of her paths, and hostility in the house of her God.
009
They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah. She will remember their iniquity. She will punish them for their sins.
010
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your mothers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved.
011
As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird. There will be no birth, none with child, and no conception.
012
Though they bring up their children, yet I will bereave them, so that not a woman shall be left. Indeed, woe also to them when I depart from them!
013
I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place; but Ephraim will bring out her children to the murderer.
014
Give them--Yahweh what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
015
"All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house! I will love them no more. All their princesses are rebels.
016
Ephraim is struck. Their root has dried up. They will bear no fruit. Even though they bring forth, yet I will kill the beloved ones of their womb."
017
My God will cast them away, because they did not listen to her; and they will be wanderers among the nations.