THE BOOK OF HOSEA

Hosea Chapter 1

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

2 ¶ When the LORD first spoke to Hosea. The LORD said to Hosea, Go, marry a prostitute with children born of prostitution: for the country has behaved like a prostitute, by departing from the LORD.

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

4 And the LORD said to him, Name him Jezreel; because in a little while, I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and put an end to the kingdom of Israel.

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

6 And she conceived again, and bore a daughter. And God said to him, Name her Loruhamah which means Unloved: for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel; but I will certainly remove them.

7 But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow, by sword, by battle, by horses, or by horsemen.

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

9 Then God said, Name him Loammi which means Not-my-people: for you are not my people, and I will not be your God.

10 Yet the number of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered; and it will come to pass, that in the place where it was said to them, You are not my people, there it will be said to them, You are the sons of the living God.

11 Then the children of Judah and the children of Israel will be gathered together, and appoint over themselves one leader, and they will come up out of the land: for the day of Jezreel will be great.