Hosea 1

1The word of Jehovah that came unto 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.

1This is the message from the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel.

2When Jehovah spake at the first by Hosea, Jehovah said unto Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land doth commit great whoredom, departing from Jehovah.

2When the LORD first began speaking through Hosea, he said to him, 'Go and marry a woman who will be unfaithful to you, and have children with her. This will show that the people of this land have been deeply unfaithful to the LORD by leaving him.'

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

3So Hosea went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son.

4And Jehovah said unto 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 the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease.

4Then the LORD said to Hosea, 'Name him Jezreel, because very soon I will punish the family of Jehu for the murders they committed at Jezreel, and I will bring an end to the kingdom of Israel.'

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

5'On that day, I will destroy Israel’s military power in the Valley of Jezreel.'

6And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And Jehovah said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah; for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, that I should in any wise pardon them.

6Gomer became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. The LORD said to Hosea, 'Name her Lo-Ruhamah, which means "not loved," because I will no longer show mercy to the people of Israel or forgive them.'

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

7'But I will show mercy to the people of Judah. I will rescue them myself as the LORD their God, but not with bows, swords, or battles, and not with horses or chariots.'

8Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

8After Gomer had finished nursing Lo-Ruhamah, she became pregnant again and gave birth to another son.

9And Jehovah said, Call his name Lo-ammi; for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

9And the LORD said, 'Name him Lo-Ammi, which means "not my people," because you are not my people and I am not your God.'

10Yet 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 unto them, Ye are not my people, it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

10'Still, the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the very place where they were told, "You are not my people," they will be called "Children of the living God."'

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

11'Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be united again. They will choose one leader for themselves and return from the land of their exile; the day of Jezreel will be a truly great day.'