Hosea 10
Break Up Your Fallow Ground, for It Is Time to Seek Him
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Israel, a Vine with Luxuriant Branches
10:1Israel is a vine with luxuriant branches, its fruit thriving. According to the abundance of his fruits he multiplied altars; according to his land’s good things he built pillars.
10:2They divided their hearts; now they will disappear. He will demolish their altars, and their pillars will suffer devastation.
10:3Because now they will say, ‘We have no king, because we did not fear the Lord; and the king—what will he do for us?’
10:4Speaking words, false pretexts, he will make a covenant; judgment will spring up like wild grass on the field’s fallow ground.
The Calf of the House of On
10:5Samaria’s inhabitants will dwell beside the calf of the house of On, because its people mourned over it; just as they embittered it, they will rejoice over its glory, because it was deported from it.
10:6They bound it and carried it to the Assyrians as guest-gifts for King Jarim. He will receive Ephraim as a gift, and Israel will be ashamed of his counsel.
10:7Samaria cast off her king like a twig on the water’s surface.
10:8The shrines of On, Israel’s sins, will be removed; thorns and thistles will grow on their altars. They will say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’ and to the hills, ‘Fall upon us!’
Ephraim the Trained Heifer Disciplined
10:9From when the hills existed, Israel sinned; there they stood. Will war against the children of injustice certainly not overtake them on the hill?
10:10He came to discipline them, and peoples will gather against them when they are disciplined for their two injustices.
10:11Ephraim is a heifer trained to love strife, but I will come upon the finest part of her neck. I will mount Ephraim and pass over Judah in silence; Jacob will strengthen him.
Sow for Yourselves in Righteousness
10:12Sow for yourselves in righteousness; reap life’s fruit. Shine for yourselves a light of knowledge; seek the Lord until produce of righteousness comes to you.
10:13Why did you pass over impiety in silence and reap its injustices, eating false fruit? Because you hoped in your chariots, in the multitude of your force.
10:14Destruction will arise among your people, and all your walled places will vanish. As the ruler Salaman from the house of Jerobaal, in days of war they dashed a mother to the ground upon children.
10:15So I will do to you, house of Israel, because of your evils. At dawn they were cast off; Israel’s king was cast off.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.