דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֣ה ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֗ה אֶל־הוֹשֵׁ֙עַ֙ בֶּן־בְּאֵרִ֔י בִּימֵ֨י עֻזִּיָּ֥ה יוֹתָ֛ם אָחָ֥ז יְחִזְקִיָּ֖ה מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וּבִימֵ֛י יָרׇבְעָ֥ם בֶּן־יוֹאָ֖שׁ מֶ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ The word of GOD that came to Hosea son of Beeri, in the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, and in the reign of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel.

תְּחִלַּ֥ת דִּבֶּר־יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּהוֹשֵׁ֑עַ {פ}
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־הוֹשֵׁ֗עַ לֵ֣ךְ קַח־לְךָ֞ אֵ֤שֶׁת זְנוּנִים֙ וְיַלְדֵ֣י זְנוּנִ֔ים כִּֽי־זָנֹ֤ה תִזְנֶה֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י יְהֹוָֽה׃ When GOD first spoke to Hosea, GOD said to Hosea, “Go, get yourself a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land will stray^astray Lit. “whore away.” from following GOD.”^ba wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land will stray from following GOD Force of Heb. uncertain.

וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ וַיִּקַּ֔ח אֶת־גֹּ֖מֶר בַּת־דִּבְלָ֑יִם וַתַּ֥הַר וַתֵּלֶד־ל֖וֹ בֵּֽן׃ So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She conceived and bore him a son,

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלָ֔יו קְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ יִזְרְעֶ֑אל כִּי־ע֣וֹד מְעַ֗ט וּפָ֨קַדְתִּ֜י אֶת־דְּמֵ֤י יִזְרְעֶאל֙ עַל־בֵּ֣ית יֵה֔וּא וְהִ֨שְׁבַּתִּ֔י מַמְלְכ֖וּת בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ and GOD instructed him, “Name him Jezreel; for, I will soon punish the House of Jehu^cJehu Emendation yields “Israel”; cf. next note. for the bloody deeds at Jezreel^dbloody deeds at Jezreel See 1 Kings 21.1–24; 2 Kings 9.21–35. Emendation yields “the Baal days”; cf. 2.15. and put an end to the monarchy of the House of Israel.

וְהָיָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וְשָֽׁבַרְתִּי֙ אֶת־קֶ֣שֶׁת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּעֵ֖מֶק יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ In that day, I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”

וַתַּ֤הַר עוֹד֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בַּ֔ת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ קְרָ֥א שְׁמָ֖הּ לֹ֣א רֻחָ֑מָה כִּי֩ לֹ֨א אוֹסִ֜יף ע֗וֹד אֲרַחֵם֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּֽי־נָשֹׂ֥א אֶשָּׂ֖א לָהֶֽם׃ She conceived again and bore a daughter; and he was told, “Name her Lo-ruhamah;^eLo-ruhamah I.e., “Not-accepted” or “Unpitied”; cf. 2.3, 6, 25. for I will no longer accept the House of Israel or pardon them.^for pardon them Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “but will disown them”; cf. 9.15 and elsewhere.

וְאֶת־בֵּ֤ית יְהוּדָה֙ אֲרַחֵ֔ם וְהוֹשַׁעְתִּ֖ים בַּיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם וְלֹ֣א אוֹשִׁיעֵ֗ם בְּקֶ֤שֶׁת וּבְחֶ֙רֶב֙ וּבְמִלְחָמָ֔ה בְּסוּסִ֖ים וּבְפָרָשִֽׁים׃ (But I will accept the House of Judah. And I will give them victory through the ETERNAL their God; I will not give them victory with bow and sword and battle, by horses and riders.)”

וַתִּגְמֹ֖ל אֶת־לֹ֣א רֻחָ֑מָה וַתַּ֖הַר וַתֵּ֥לֶד בֵּֽן׃ After weaning Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son.

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר קְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ לֹ֣א עַמִּ֑י כִּ֤י אַתֶּם֙ לֹ֣א עַמִּ֔י וְאָנֹכִ֖י לֹא־אֶהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶֽם׃ {פ}
Then [God] said, “Name him Lo-ammi;^gLo-ammi I.e., “Not-My-People.” for you^hyou I.e., you and your fellow countrymen. are not My people, and I will not be your [God].”ⁱI will not be your [God] Cf. 2.25.

וְֽ֠הָיָ֠ה מִסְפַּ֤ר בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כְּח֣וֹל הַיָּ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יִמַּ֖ד וְלֹ֣א יִסָּפֵ֑ר וְֽ֠הָיָ֠ה בִּמְק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יֵאָמֵ֤ר לָהֶם֙ לֹא־עַמִּ֣י אַתֶּ֔ם יֵאָמֵ֥ר לָהֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֥י אֵֽל־חָֽי׃ ^aVv. 1–3 anticipate the conclusion of the chapter. The number of the people of Israel shall be like that of the sands of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted; and instead of being told, “You are Not-My-People,”^bYou are Not-My-People See 1.9. they shall be called Children-of-the-Living-God.

וְ֠נִקְבְּצ֠וּ בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֤ה וּבְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יַחְדָּ֔ו וְשָׂמ֥וּ לָהֶ֛ם רֹ֥אשׁ אֶחָ֖ד וְעָל֣וּ מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּ֥י גָד֖וֹל י֥וֹם יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ The people of Judah and the people of Israel shall assemble together and appoint one head over them; and they shall rise from the ground^cfrom the ground Meaning, perhaps, “from their wretched condition,” or “to ascendancy over the land.” —for marvelous shall be the day of Jezreel!^dthe day of Jezreel I.e., the day when the name Jezreel will convey a promise (2.23–25) instead of a threat (1.4–5).

אִמְר֥וּ לַאֲחֵיכֶ֖ם עַמִּ֑י וְלַאֲחוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם רֻחָֽמָה׃ Oh, call^ecall GOD addresses Hosea and his fellow North Israelites; see 1.9. The mother is the nation; her children the individual North Israelites. your brothers “My People,”
And your sisters “Lovingly Accepted!”

רִ֤יבוּ בְאִמְּכֶם֙ רִ֔יבוּ כִּי־הִיא֙ לֹ֣א אִשְׁתִּ֔י וְאָנֹכִ֖י לֹ֣א אִישָׁ֑הּ וְתָסֵ֤ר זְנוּנֶ֙יהָ֙ מִפָּנֶ֔יהָ וְנַאֲפוּפֶ֖יהָ מִבֵּ֥ין שָׁדֶֽיהָ׃ ^fSee preceding note. In this passage, GOD speaks as if in a family quarrel, or in a court of law. Remonstrate your mother, remonstrate her—
For she is not My wife
And I am not her husband^gshe is not My wife / And I am not her husband A declaration of divorce. —
And let her put away her whoredom from her face
And her adultery from between her breasts.

פֶּן־אַפְשִׁיטֶ֣נָּה עֲרֻמָּ֔ה וְהִ֨צַּגְתִּ֔יהָ כְּי֖וֹם הִוָּֽלְדָ֑הּ וְשַׂמְתִּ֣יהָ כַמִּדְבָּ֗ר וְשַׁתִּ֙הָ֙ כְּאֶ֣רֶץ צִיָּ֔ה וַהֲמִתִּ֖יהָ בַּצָּמָֽא׃ Else will I strip her naked
And leave her as on the day she was born:
And I will make her like a wilderness,
Render her like desert land,
And let her die of thirst.

וְאֶת־בָּנֶ֖יהָ לֹ֣א אֲרַחֵ֑ם כִּֽי־בְנֵ֥י זְנוּנִ֖ים הֵֽמָּה׃ I will also disown her children;
For they are now a whore’s brood,

כִּ֤י זָֽנְתָה֙ אִמָּ֔ם הֹבִ֖ישָׁה הוֹרָתָ֑ם כִּ֣י אָמְרָ֗ה אֵלְכָ֞ה אַחֲרֵ֤י מְאַֽהֲבַי֙ נֹתְנֵ֤י לַחְמִי֙ וּמֵימַ֔י צַמְרִ֣י וּפִשְׁתִּ֔י שַׁמְנִ֖י וְשִׁקּוּיָֽי׃ In that their mother has played the whore,
She that conceived them has acted shamelessly—
Because she thought,
“I will go after my lovers,
Who supply my bread and my water,
My wool and my linen,
My oil and my drink.”

לָכֵ֛ן הִנְנִי־שָׂ֥ךְ אֶת־דַּרְכֵּ֖ךְ בַּסִּירִ֑ים וְגָֽדַרְתִּי֙ אֶת־גְּדֵרָ֔הּ וּנְתִיבוֹתֶ֖יהָ לֹ֥א תִמְצָֽא׃ Assuredly,
I will hedge up her^hher Heb. “your.” Vv. 8–9 would read well after v. 15. roads with thorns
And raise walls against her,
And she shall not find her paths.

וְרִדְּפָ֤ה אֶת־מְאַהֲבֶ֙יהָ֙ וְלֹא־תַשִּׂ֣יג אֹתָ֔ם וּבִקְשָׁ֖תַם וְלֹ֣א תִמְצָ֑א וְאָמְרָ֗ה אֵלְכָ֤ה וְאָשׁ֙וּבָה֙ אֶל־אִישִׁ֣י הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן כִּ֣י ט֥וֹב לִ֛י אָ֖ז מֵעָֽתָּה׃ Pursue her lovers as she will,
She shall not overtake them;
And seek them as she may,
She shall never find them.
Then she will say,
“I will go and return
To my first husband,
For then I fared better than now.”

וְהִיא֙ לֹ֣א יָֽדְעָ֔ה כִּ֤י אָנֹכִי֙ נָתַ֣תִּי לָ֔הּ הַדָּגָ֖ן וְהַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֑ר וְכֶ֨סֶף הִרְבֵּ֥יתִי לָ֛הּ וְזָהָ֖ב עָשׂ֥וּ לַבָּֽעַל׃ And she did not consider this:
It was I who bestowed on her
The new grain and wine and oil;
I who lavished silver on her
And gold—which they used for Baal.

לָכֵ֣ן אָשׁ֔וּב וְלָקַחְתִּ֤י דְגָנִי֙ בְּעִתּ֔וֹ וְתִירוֹשִׁ֖י בְּמוֹעֲד֑וֹ וְהִצַּלְתִּי֙ צַמְרִ֣י וּפִשְׁתִּ֔י לְכַסּ֖וֹת אֶת־עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃ Assuredly,
I will take back My new grain in its time
And My new wine in its season,
And I will snatch away My wool and My linen
That serve to cover her nakedness.

וְעַתָּ֛ה אֲגַלֶּ֥ה אֶת־נַבְלֻתָ֖הּ לְעֵינֵ֣י מְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָ וְאִ֖ישׁ לֹא־יַצִּילֶ֥נָּה מִיָּדִֽי׃ Now will I uncover her shame
In the very sight of her lovers,
And not one of them shall save her from Me.

וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי֙ כׇּל־מְשׂוֹשָׂ֔הּ חַגָּ֖הּ חׇדְשָׁ֣הּ וְשַׁבַּתָּ֑הּ וְכֹ֖ל מוֹעֲדָֽהּ׃ And I will end all her rejoicing:
Her festivals, new moons, and sabbaths—
All her festive seasons.

וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִ֗י גַּפְנָהּ֙ וּתְאֵ֣נָתָ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמְרָ֗ה אֶתְנָ֥ה הֵ֙מָּה֙ לִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתְנוּ־לִ֖י מְאַהֲבָ֑י וְשַׂמְתִּ֣ים לְיַ֔עַר וַאֲכָלָ֖תַם חַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees,
Which she thinks are a fee
She received from her lovers;
I will turn them into brushwood,
And beasts of the field shall devour them.

וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י עָלֶ֗יהָ אֶת־יְמֵ֤י הַבְּעָלִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּקְטִ֣יר לָהֶ֔ם וַתַּ֤עַד נִזְמָהּ֙ וְחֶלְיָתָ֔הּ וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ אַחֲרֵ֣י מְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָ וְאֹתִ֥י שָׁכְחָ֖ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         Thus will I punish her
For the days of the Baalim,
On which she brought them offerings;
When, decked with earrings and jewels,
She would go after her lovers,
Forgetting Me
—declares GOD.

לָכֵ֗ן הִנֵּ֤ה אָנֹכִי֙ מְפַתֶּ֔יהָ וְהֹלַכְתִּ֖יהָ הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְדִבַּרְתִּ֖י עַל־לִבָּֽהּ׃ Assuredly,
I will speak coaxingly to her
And lead her through the wildernessⁱwilderness I.e., her ravaged land (see vv. 5, 10–11, 14); so Ibn Ezra.
And speak to her tenderly.

וְנָתַ֨תִּי לָ֤הּ אֶת־כְּרָמֶ֙יהָ֙ מִשָּׁ֔ם וְאֶת־עֵ֥מֶק עָכ֖וֹר לְפֶ֣תַח תִּקְוָ֑ה וְעָ֤נְתָה שָּׁ֙מָּה֙ כִּימֵ֣י נְעוּרֶ֔יהָ וּכְי֖וֹם עֲלוֹתָ֥הּ מֵאֶרֶץ־מִצְרָֽיִם׃ I will give her her vineyards from there,
And the Valley of Achor^jValley of Achor A desolate region; cf. Isa. 65.10; see further Josh. 7.25–26. as a plowland of hope.^kplowland of hope Connecting pethaḥ with pittaḥ “to plow” (see Isa. 28.24). Meaning of Heb. uncertain; in contrast to others “door of hope.”
There she shall respond as in the days of her youth,
When she came up from the land of Egypt.

וְהָיָ֤ה בַיּוֹם־הַהוּא֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה תִּקְרְאִ֖י אִישִׁ֑י וְלֹא־תִקְרְאִי־לִ֥י ע֖וֹד בַּעְלִֽי׃ And in that day
—declares GOD —
You will call [Me] Ishi,^lIshi I.e., “my husband.”
And no more will you call Me Baali.^mBaali Like Ishi, Baali means “my husband,” but it also means “my Baal.”

וַהֲסִרֹתִ֛י אֶת־שְׁמ֥וֹת הַבְּעָלִ֖ים מִפִּ֑יהָ וְלֹא־יִזָּכְר֥וּ ע֖וֹד בִּשְׁמָֽם׃ For I will remove the names of the Baalim from her mouth,
And they shall nevermore be mentioned by name.

וְכָרַתִּ֨י לָהֶ֤ם בְּרִית֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא עִם־חַיַּ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְעִם־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְרֶ֖מֶשׂ הָאֲדָמָ֑ה וְקֶ֨שֶׁת וְחֶ֤רֶב וּמִלְחָמָה֙ אֶשְׁבּ֣וֹר מִן־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהִשְׁכַּבְתִּ֖ים לָבֶֽטַח׃ In that day, I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; I will also banishⁿbanish Lit. “break.” bow, sword, and war from the land. Thus I will let them lie down in safety.

וְאֵרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְ לִ֖י לְעוֹלָ֑ם וְאֵרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְ לִי֙ בְּצֶ֣דֶק וּבְמִשְׁפָּ֔ט וּבְחֶ֖סֶד וּֽבְרַחֲמִֽים׃ And I will espouse you forever:
I will espouse you with righteousness and justice,
And with goodness and mercy,

וְאֵרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְ לִ֖י בֶּאֱמוּנָ֑ה וְיָדַ֖עַתְּ אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
And I will espouse you with faithfulness;^owith righteousness and justice,…with goodness and mercy,…with faithfulness As the bride-price to be paid upon marriage, the bridegroom (GOD) will confer these qualities on the bride (the people of Israel), which she had lacked during their first marriage, so that their second one will last forever.
Then you shall be devoted to GOD.

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא אֶֽעֱנֶה֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶעֱנֶ֖ה אֶת־הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְהֵ֖ם יַעֲנ֥וּ אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ In that day,
I will respond
—declares GOD —
I will respond to the sky,
And it shall respond to the earth;

וְהָאָ֣רֶץ תַּעֲנֶ֔ה אֶת־הַדָּגָ֖ן וְאֶת־הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְאֶת־הַיִּצְהָ֑ר וְהֵ֖ם יַעֲנ֥וּ אֶֽת־יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ And the earth shall respond
With new grain and wine and oil,
And they shall respond to Jezreel.^pJezreel I.e., “God sows.” The names of Hosea’s children (1.3–8) are applied here to Israel.

וּזְרַעְתִּ֤יהָ לִּי֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וְרִחַמְתִּ֖י אֶת־לֹ֣א רֻחָ֑מָה וְאָמַרְתִּ֤י לְלֹֽא־עַמִּי֙ עַמִּי־אַ֔תָּה וְה֖וּא יֹאמַ֥ר אֱלֹהָֽי׃ {פ}
I will sow her in the land as My own;
And take Lo-ruhamah back in favor;
And I will say to Lo-ammi, “You are My people,”
And he will respond, “[You are] my God.”

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י ע֚וֹד לֵ֣ךְ אֱֽהַב־אִשָּׁ֔ה אֲהֻ֥בַת רֵ֖עַ וּמְנָאָ֑פֶת כְּאַהֲבַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהֵ֗ם פֹּנִים֙ אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְאֹהֲבֵ֖י אֲשִׁישֵׁ֥י עֲנָבִֽים׃ GODsaid to me further, “Go, befriend a woman who, while befriended^abefriend…befriended For this sense, see Deut. 10.19. by a companion, consorts with others, just as GOD befriends the Israelites,^bjust as GOD befriends the Israelites See Hos. 2.10. but they turn to other gods and love the cups of the grape.”^cto other gods and love the cups of the grape Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “‘to other gods.’ And so I befriended a woman of lust.”

וָאֶכְּרֶ֣הָ לִּ֔י בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר כָּ֑סֶף וְחֹ֥מֶר שְׂעֹרִ֖ים וְלֵ֥תֶךְ שְׂעֹרִֽים׃ Then I hired her for fifteen [shekels of] silver, a ḥomer of barley, and a lethech of barley;^da lethech of barley Septuagint reads “a jar of wine.”

וָאֹמַ֣ר אֵלֶ֗יהָ יָמִ֤ים רַבִּים֙ תֵּ֣שְׁבִי לִ֔י לֹ֣א תִזְנִ֔י וְלֹ֥א תִֽהְיִ֖י לְאִ֑ישׁ וְגַם־אֲנִ֖י אֵלָֽיִךְ׃ and I stipulated with her, “In return,^eIn return Lit. “for me.” you are to go a long time without either fornicating or marrying; even I [shall not cohabit] with you.”

כִּ֣י ׀ יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים יֵֽשְׁבוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵ֥ין מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ וְאֵ֣ין שָׂ֔ר וְאֵ֥ין זֶ֖בַח וְאֵ֣ין מַצֵּבָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין אֵפ֖וֹד וּתְרָפִֽים׃ For the Israelites shall go a long time without king and without officials, without sacrifice^fsacrifice Emendation yields “altar.” and without cult pillars, and without ephod and oracle idols.

אַחַ֗ר יָשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּבִקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת דָּוִ֣יד מַלְכָּ֑ם וּפָחֲד֧וּ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֛ה וְאֶל־טוּב֖וֹ בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִֽים׃ {פ}
Afterward, the Israelites will turn back and will seek the ETERNAL their God and David their king—and they will thrill over GOD and over God’s bounty in the days to come.

שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֣י רִ֤יב לַֽיהֹוָה֙ עִם־יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֠י אֵין־אֱמֶ֧ת וְֽאֵין־חֶ֛סֶד וְאֵֽין־דַּ֥עַת אֱלֹהִ֖ים בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ Hear the word of GOD,
O people of Israel!
For GOD has a case
Against the inhabitants of this land,
Because there is no honesty and no goodness
And no devotion to God in the land.

אָלֹ֣ה וְכַחֵ֔שׁ וְרָצֹ֥חַ וְגָנֹ֖ב וְנָאֹ֑ף פָּרָ֕צוּ וְדָמִ֥ים בְּדָמִ֖ים נָגָֽעוּ׃ [False] swearing, dishonesty, and murder,
And theft and adultery are rife;
Crime follows upon crime!

עַל־כֵּ֣ן ׀ תֶּאֱבַ֣ל הָאָ֗רֶץ וְאֻמְלַל֙ כׇּל־יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בָּ֔הּ בְּחַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְגַם־דְּגֵ֥י הַיָּ֖ם יֵאָסֵֽפוּ׃ For that, the earth is withered:
Everything that dwells on it languishes—
Beasts of the field and birds of the sky—
Even the fish of the sea perish.

אַ֥ךְ אִ֛ישׁ אַל־יָרֵ֖ב וְאַל־יוֹכַ֣ח אִ֑ישׁ וְעַמְּךָ֖ כִּמְרִיבֵ֥י כֹהֵֽן׃ “Absolutely no one shall rebuke; none shall protest!”
For this, your people has a grievance against [you], O priest!^aFor this, your people has a grievance against [you], O priest! For failing to reprove; but meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וְכָשַׁלְתָּ֣ הַיּ֔וֹם וְכָשַׁ֧ל גַּם־נָבִ֛יא עִמְּךָ֖ לָ֑יְלָה וְדָמִ֖יתִי אִמֶּֽךָ׃ So you shall stumble by day,
And by night a prophet^ba prophet Emendation yields “your children”; cf. v. 6 end. shall stumble as well,
And I will destroy your kindred.^ckindred Lit. “mother.”

נִדְמ֥וּ עַמִּ֖י מִבְּלִ֣י הַדָּ֑עַת כִּי־אַתָּ֞ה הַדַּ֣עַת מָאַ֗סְתָּ (ואמאסאך) [וְאֶמְאָֽסְךָ֙] מִכַּהֵ֣ן לִ֔י וַתִּשְׁכַּח֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֶשְׁכַּ֥ח בָּנֶ֖יךָ גַּם־אָֽנִי׃ My people is destroyed for the lack of devotion!
Because you have rejected devotion,
I reject you as My priest;
Because you have spurned the teaching of your God,
I, in turn, will spurn your children.

כְּרֻבָּ֖ם כֵּ֣ן חָטְאוּ־לִ֑י כְּבוֹדָ֖ם בְּקָל֥וֹן אָמִֽיר׃ The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me:
I will change their dignity to dishonor.

חַטַּ֥את עַמִּ֖י יֹאכֵ֑לוּ וְאֶל־עֲוֺנָ֖ם יִשְׂא֥וּ נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ They feed on My people’s purgation offerings,
And so they desire its iniquity.

וְהָיָ֥ה כָעָ֖ם כַּכֹּהֵ֑ן וּפָקַדְתִּ֤י עָלָיו֙ דְּרָכָ֔יו וּמַעֲלָלָ֖יו אָשִׁ֥יב לֽוֹ׃ Therefore, the people shall fare like the priests:
I will punish it for its conduct,
I will requite it for its deeds.

וְאָֽכְלוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׂבָּ֔עוּ הִזְנ֖וּ וְלֹ֣א יִפְרֹ֑צוּ כִּֽי־אֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה עָזְב֖וּ לִשְׁמֹֽר׃ Truly, they shall eat, but not be sated;
They shall swill,^dswill For this meaning of hiznah cf. v. 18. but not be satisfied,
Because they have forsaken GOD
To practice^epractice Cf. 12.7.

זְנ֛וּת וְיַ֥יִן וְתִיר֖וֹשׁ יִֽקַּֽח־לֵֽב׃ lechery.
Wine^fWine Emendation yields “New grain”; cf. 7.14; 9.1–2. and new wine destroy
The mind of

עַמִּי֙ בְּעֵצ֣וֹ יִשְׁאָ֔ל וּמַקְל֖וֹ יַגִּ֣יד ל֑וֹ כִּ֣י ר֤וּחַ זְנוּנִים֙ הִתְעָ֔ה וַיִּזְנ֖וּ מִתַּ֥חַת אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ My people:
It consults its stick,^gstick I.e., its phallus, meaning “its lust.”
Its rod^hrod I.e., its phallus, meaning “its lust.” directs it!
A lecherous impulse has made them go wrong,
And they have strayedⁱstrayed See note at 1.2. from submission to their God.

עַל־רָאשֵׁ֨י הֶהָרִ֜ים יְזַבֵּ֗חוּ וְעַל־הַגְּבָעוֹת֙ יְקַטֵּ֔רוּ תַּ֣חַת אַלּ֧וֹן וְלִבְנֶ֛ה וְאֵלָ֖ה כִּ֣י ט֣וֹב צִלָּ֑הּ עַל־כֵּ֗ן תִּזְנֶ֙ינָה֙ בְּנ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם וְכַלּוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם תְּנָאַֽפְנָה׃ They sacrifice on the mountaintops
And offer on the hills,
Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths
Whose shade is so pleasant.
That is why their^jtheir Heb. “your,” here and through v. 14. daughters fornicate
And their daughters-in-law commit adultery!

לֹא־אֶפְק֨וֹד עַל־בְּנוֹתֵיכֶ֜ם כִּ֣י תִזְנֶ֗ינָה וְעַל־כַּלּֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ כִּ֣י תְנָאַ֔פְנָה כִּי־הֵם֙ עִם־הַזֹּנ֣וֹת יְפָרֵ֔דוּ וְעִם־הַקְּדֵשׁ֖וֹת יְזַבֵּ֑חוּ וְעָ֥ם לֹֽא־יָבִ֖ין יִלָּבֵֽט׃ I will not punish their daughters for fornicating
Nor their daughters-in-law for committing adultery;
For they themselves turn aside^kturn aside Meaning of Heb. uncertain. with whores
And sacrifice with female consecrated workers,^lfemale consecrated workers Or “female retainers”; meaning of Heb. qedeshot uncertain.
And a people that is without sense^mwithout sense Cf. vv. 11–12. must stumble.

אִם־זֹנֶ֤ה אַתָּה֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַל־יֶאְשַׁ֖ם יְהוּדָ֑ה וְאַל־תָּבֹ֣אוּ הַגִּלְגָּ֗ל וְאַֽל־תַּעֲלוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית אָ֔וֶן וְאַל־תִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ חַי־יְהֹוָֽה׃ If you are a lecher, Israel—
Let not Judah incur guilt—
Do not come to Gilgal,ⁿDo not come to Gilgal One who participates in the debaucheries of the open-air shrines is not fit to visit a temple building.
Do not make pilgrimages to Beth-aven,^oBeth-aven Lit. “House of Delusion,” substituted for Bethel (cf. Amos 4.4).
And do not swear by GOD !^pdo not swear by GOD I.e., you are not fit to profess this religion; see Jer. 12.16.

כִּ֚י כְּפָרָ֣ה סֹרֵרָ֔ה סָרַ֖ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עַתָּה֙ יִרְעֵ֣ם יְהֹוָ֔ה כְּכֶ֖בֶשׂ בַּמֶּרְחָֽב׃ Ah, Israel has balked
Like a stubborn cow;
Therefore,
GOD will graze him
On the range, like a sheep.^qgraze him / On the range, like a sheep Instead of giving them fodder in return for their work; cf. Isa. 30.23–24.

חֲב֧וּר עֲצַבִּ֛ים אֶפְרָ֖יִם הַֽנַּֽח־לֽוֹ׃ ^rMeaning of vv. 17–19 uncertain in part. Ephraim is addicted to images—
Let him be.

סָ֖ר סׇבְאָ֑ם הַזְנֵ֣ה הִזְנ֔וּ אָהֲב֥וּ הֵב֛וּ קָל֖וֹן מָגִנֶּֽיהָ׃ They drink to excess—
Their liquor turns against them.
They “love” beyond measure—
Disgrace is the “gift”

צָרַ֥ר ר֛וּחַ אוֹתָ֖הּ בִּכְנָפֶ֑יהָ וְיֵבֹ֖שׁוּ מִזִּבְחוֹתָֽם׃ {פ}
That the wind is bringing;^sis bringing Lit. “has bound up in the corners of its garment”; see note at Mal. 3.20.
They shall garner shame from their sacrifices.

שִׁמְעוּ־זֹ֨את הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים וְהַקְשִׁ֣יבוּ ׀ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וּבֵ֤ית הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַאֲזִ֔ינוּ כִּ֥י לָכֶ֖ם הַמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט כִּי־פַח֙ הֱיִיתֶ֣ם לְמִצְפָּ֔ה וְרֶ֖שֶׁת פְּרוּשָׂ֥ה עַל־תָּבֽוֹר׃ Hear this, O priests,
Attend, O House^aHouse Emendation yields “prophets.” of Israel,
And give ear, O royal house;
For right conduct is your responsibility!
But you^bFor right conduct is your responsibility! / But you Or “This verdict pertains to you. / You.” have been a snare to Mizpah
And a net spread out over Tabor;

וְשַׁחֲטָ֥ה שֵׂטִ֖ים הֶעְמִ֑יקוּ וַאֲנִ֖י מוּסָ֥ר לְכֻלָּֽם׃ ^cMeaning of verse uncertain. For when trappers dug deep pitfalls,
I was the only reprover of them all.

אֲנִי֙ יָדַ֣עְתִּי אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֹא־נִכְחַ֣ד מִמֶּ֑נִּי כִּ֤י עַתָּה֙ הִזְנֵ֣יתָ אֶפְרַ֔יִם נִטְמָ֖א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Yes, I have watched Ephraim,
Israel has not escaped my notice:
Behold, you have fornicated, O Ephraim;
Israel has defiled himself!

לֹ֤א יִתְּנוּ֙ מַ֣עַלְלֵיהֶ֔ם לָשׁ֖וּב אֶל־אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֑ם כִּ֣י ר֤וּחַ זְנוּנִים֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔ם וְאֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה לֹ֥א יָדָֽעוּ׃ Their habits do not let them
Turn back to their God;
Because of the lecherous impulse within them,
They pay no heed to GOD.

וְעָנָ֥ה גְאֽוֹן־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּפָנָ֑יו וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל וְאֶפְרַ֗יִם יִכָּֽשְׁלוּ֙ בַּעֲוֺנָ֔ם כָּשַׁ֥ל גַּם־יְהוּדָ֖ה עִמָּֽם׃ Israel’s pride shall be humbled before his very eyes,
As Israel and Ephraim fall because of their sin
(And Judah falls with them).

בְּצֹאנָ֣ם וּבִבְקָרָ֗ם יֵ֥לְכ֛וּ לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א יִמְצָ֑אוּ חָלַ֖ץ מֵהֶֽם׃ Then they will go with their sheep and cattle
To seek GOD —whom they will not find.^dIsrael’s pride … will not find This passage would read well after 5.15; cf. 5.6 with 6.6.
They have been cast off:^eThey have been cast off Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

בַּיהֹוָ֣ה בָּגָ֔דוּ כִּי־בָנִ֥ים זָרִ֖ים יָלָ֑דוּ עַתָּ֛ה יֹאכְלֵ֥ם חֹ֖דֶשׁ אֶת־חֶלְקֵיהֶֽם׃ {ס}         [Because] they have broken faith with GOD,
Because they have^fthey have Emendation yields “[God] has.” begotten
Alien children.
Therefore, the new moon
Shall devour their portion.^gTherefore, the new moon / Shall devour their portion Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

תִּקְע֤וּ שׁוֹפָר֙ בַּגִּבְעָ֔ה חֲצֹצְרָ֖ה בָּרָמָ֑ה הָרִ֙יעוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית אָ֔וֶן אַחֲרֶ֖יךָ בִּנְיָמִֽין׃ Sound a ram’s horn in Gibeah,
A trumpet in Ramah;
Give the alarm in Beth-aven;^hGibeah…Ramah…Beth-aven The three towns named, in the territory of Benjamin, are now being wrested from Israel by Judah; see v. 10. On the latter town’s name, see second note at 4.15.
After you,ⁱAfter you Emendation yields “Stir up.” Benjamin!

אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ לְשַׁמָּ֣ה תִֽהְיֶ֔ה בְּי֖וֹם תּוֹכֵחָ֑ה בְּשִׁבְטֵי֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הוֹדַ֖עְתִּי נֶאֱמָנָֽה׃ Ephraim is stricken with horror
On a day of chastisement.
Against the tribes^jtribes I.e., the kingdoms of Judah and Israel (represented by Ephraim). of Israel
I proclaim certainties:

הָיוּ֙ שָׂרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה כְּמַסִּיגֵ֖י גְּב֑וּל עֲלֵיהֶ֕ם אֶשְׁפּ֥וֹךְ כַּמַּ֖יִם עֶבְרָתִֽי׃ The officers of Judah have acted
Like shifters of field boundaries;
On them I will pour out
My wrath like water.

עָשׁ֥וּק אֶפְרַ֖יִם רְצ֣וּץ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט כִּ֣י הוֹאִ֔יל הָלַ֖ךְ אַחֲרֵי־צָֽו׃ Ephraim is defrauded,
Robbed of redress,
Because he has witlessly
Gone after futility.^kfutility Cf. Targum and Septuagint; but meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וַאֲנִ֥י כָעָ֖שׁ לְאֶפְרָ֑יִם וְכָרָקָ֖ב לְבֵ֥ית יְהוּדָֽה׃ For it is I who am like rot to Ephraim,
Like decay to the House of Judah;^lJudah Emendation yields “Israel.”

וַיַּ֨רְא אֶפְרַ֜יִם אֶת־חׇלְי֗וֹ וִֽיהוּדָה֙ אֶת־מְזֹר֔וֹ וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ אֶל־אַשּׁ֔וּר וַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יָרֵ֑ב וְה֗וּא לֹ֤א יוּכַל֙ לִרְפֹּ֣א לָכֶ֔ם וְלֹא־יִגְהֶ֥ה מִכֶּ֖ם מָזֽוֹר׃ Yet when Ephraim became aware of his sickness,
Judah^mJudah See note at v. 12. of his sores,
Ephraim repaired to Assyria—
He sent envoys to a patronⁿpatron Compare the verb ryb in the sense of “to champion, uphold the cause of,” in Isa. 1.17; 3.13; 19.20 end; 51.22. king!
He will never be able to cure you,
Will not heal you of your sores.

כִּ֣י אָנֹכִ֤י כַשַּׁ֙חַל֙ לְאֶפְרַ֔יִם וְכַכְּפִ֖יר לְבֵ֣ית יְהוּדָ֑ה אֲנִ֨י אֲנִ֤י אֶטְרֹף֙ וְאֵלֵ֔ךְ אֶשָּׂ֖א וְאֵ֥ין מַצִּֽיל׃ No, I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
Like a great beast to the House of Judah;^oJudah See note at v. 12.
I, I will attack and stride away,
Carrying the prey that no one can rescue;

אֵלֵ֤ךְ אָשׁ֙וּבָה֙ אֶל־מְקוֹמִ֔י עַ֥ד אֲשֶֽׁר־יֶאְשְׁמ֖וּ וּבִקְשׁ֣וּ פָנָ֑י בַּצַּ֥ר לָהֶ֖ם יְשַׁחֲרֻֽנְנִי׃ And I will return to My abode—
Till they realize their guilt.
In their distress, they will seek Me
And beg for My favor.

לְכוּ֙ וְנָשׁ֣וּבָה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֛י ה֥וּא טָרָ֖ף וְיִרְפָּאֵ֑נוּ יַ֖ךְ וְיַחְבְּשֵֽׁנוּ׃ ^aAs anticipated at the end of chapter 5, Israel seeks GOD’s favor; the answer begins with v. 4. “Come, let us turn back to GOD:
The One who attacked, and so can heal us;
Who wounded, and so can bind us up.

יְחַיֵּ֖נוּ מִיֹּמָ֑יִם בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י יְקִמֵ֖נוּ וְנִחְיֶ֥ה לְפָנָֽיו׃ In two days [God] will make us whole again,
And on the third day raise us up;
God’s favor will make us whole.

וְנֵדְעָ֣ה נִרְדְּפָ֗ה לָדַ֙עַת֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה כְּשַׁ֖חַר נָכ֣וֹן מֹֽצָא֑וֹ וְיָב֤וֹא כַגֶּ֙שֶׁם֙ לָ֔נוּ כְּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ י֥וֹרֶה אָֽרֶץ׃ Let us pursue devotion to GOD,
And we shall become devout.
As sure as daybreak is God’s appearance,
Which will come to us like rain,
Like latter rain that refreshes^brefreshes Taking yoreh as equivalent of yarweh. the earth.”

מָ֤ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לְּךָ֙ אֶפְרַ֔יִם מָ֥ה אֶעֱשֶׂה־לְּךָ֖ יְהוּדָ֑ה וְחַסְדְּכֶם֙ כַּעֲנַן־בֹּ֔קֶר וְכַטַּ֖ל מַשְׁכִּ֥ים הֹלֵֽךְ׃ What can I do for you, Ephraim,
What can I do for you, Judah,^cJudah Emendation yields “Israel”; cf. “Ephraim…Israel” in v. 10.
When your goodness is like morning clouds,
Like dew so early gone?

עַל־כֵּ֗ן חָצַ֙בְתִּי֙ בַּנְּבִיאִ֔ים הֲרַגְתִּ֖ים בְּאִמְרֵי־פִ֑י וּמִשְׁפָּטֶ֖יךָ א֥וֹר יֵצֵֽא׃ That is why I have hewn down the prophets,^dthe prophets Emendation yields “your children”; cf. 9.13.
Have slain them with the words of My mouth:
And the day that dawned [brought on] your punishment.^eAnd the day that dawned [brought on] your punishment Cf. v. 3; but meaning of Heb. uncertain.

כִּ֛י חֶ֥סֶד חָפַ֖צְתִּי וְלֹא־זָ֑בַח וְדַ֥עַת אֱלֹהִ֖ים מֵעֹלֽוֹת׃ For I desire goodness, not sacrifice;
Devotion to God, rather than burnt offerings.

וְהֵ֕מָּה כְּאָדָ֖ם עָבְר֣וּ בְרִ֑ית שָׁ֖ם בָּ֥גְדוּ בִֽי׃ ^fMeaning of vv. 7–11 unclear in part. But they, as human beings [are wont to do],^ghuman beings [are wont to do] Or “at Adam,” a town in central Transjordan; cf. Josh. 3.16. have transgressed the Covenant.
This is where they have been false to Me:

גִּלְעָ֕ד קִרְיַ֖ת פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן עֲקֻבָּ֖ה מִדָּֽם׃ Gilead is a city of evildoers,
Tracked up with blood.

וּכְחַכֵּ֨י אִ֜ישׁ גְּדוּדִ֗ים חֶ֚בֶר כֹּהֲנִ֔ים דֶּ֖רֶךְ יְרַצְּחוּ־שֶׁ֑כְמָה כִּ֥י זִמָּ֖ה עָשֽׂוּ׃ The gang of priests is
Like the ambuscade of bandits
Who murder on the road to Shechem,
For they have encouraged^hencouraged Heb. “done”; cf. 5.1–3. depravity.

בְּבֵית֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רָאִ֖יתִי (שעריריה) [שַׁעֲרֽוּרִיָּ֑ה] שָׁ֚ם זְנ֣וּת לְאֶפְרַ֔יִם נִטְמָ֖א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ In the House of Israelⁱthe House of Israel Emendation yields “Beth-shean.” I have seen
A horrible thing;
Ephraim has fornicated there,
Israel has defiled himself.

גַּם־יְהוּדָ֕ה שָׁ֥ת קָצִ֖יר לָ֑ךְ בְּשׁוּבִ֖י שְׁב֥וּת עַמִּֽי׃ {פ}
(Even Judah has reaped a harvest of you!)^j(Even Judah has reaped a harvest of you!) Cf. 5.9–10; but meaning of clause uncertain.
When I would restore My people’s fortunes,

כְּרׇפְאִ֣י לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְנִגְלָ֞ה עֲוֺ֤ן אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ וְרָע֣וֹת שֹׁמְר֔וֹן כִּ֥י פָעֲל֖וּ שָׁ֑קֶר וְגַנָּ֣ב יָב֔וֹא פָּשַׁ֥ט גְּד֖וּד בַּחֽוּץ׃ When I would heal Israel,
The guilt of Ephraim reveals itself
And the wickedness of Samaria.
For they have acted treacherously,
With thieves breaking in
And bands raiding outside.

וּבַל־יֹֽאמְרוּ֙ לִלְבָבָ֔ם כׇּל־רָעָתָ֖ם זָכָ֑רְתִּי עַתָּה֙ סְבָב֣וּם מַעַלְלֵיהֶ֔ם נֶ֥גֶד פָּנַ֖י הָיֽוּ׃ And they do not consider
That I remembered all their wickedness.
Why, their misdeeds have been all around them,^athem Emendation yields “Me.”
They have been ever before Me.

בְּרָעָתָ֖ם יְשַׂמְּחוּ־מֶ֑לֶךְ וּבְכַחֲשֵׁיהֶ֖ם שָׂרִֽים׃ ^bVv. 3–6 would read well in the order 4, 6, 3, 5. In malice they make a king merry,
And officials in treachery.

כֻּלָּם֙ מְנָ֣אֲפִ֔ים כְּמ֣וֹ תַנּ֔וּר בֹּעֵ֖רָה מֵאֹפֶ֑ה יִשְׁבּ֣וֹת מֵעִ֔יר מִלּ֥וּשׁ בָּצֵ֖ק עַד־חֻמְצָתֽוֹ׃ They commit adultery,^ccommit adultery Emendation yields “rage.” all of them,
Like an oven fired by a baker,
Who desists from stoking only
From the kneading of the dough to its leavening.

י֣וֹם מַלְכֵּ֔נוּ הֶחֱל֥וּ שָׂרִ֖ים חֲמַ֣ת מִיָּ֑יִן מָשַׁ֥ךְ יָד֖וֹ אֶת־לֹצְצִֽים׃ The day they made our king sick
[And] officials with the poison of wine,
He gave his hand to traitors.^dHe gave his hand to traitors I.e., he trusted traitors; but meaning of verse uncertain.

כִּֽי־קֵרְב֧וּ כַתַּנּ֛וּר לִבָּ֖ם בְּאׇרְבָּ֑ם כׇּל־הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ יָשֵׁ֣ן אֹֽפֵהֶ֔ם בֹּ֕קֶר ה֥וּא בֹעֵ֖ר כְּאֵ֥שׁ לֶהָבָֽה׃ For they approach their ambush
With their hearts like an oven:^eFor they approach … like an oven Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Through the night
Their baker^fbaker Emendation yields “rage.” has slept;
In the morning, it flares up
Like a blazing fire.

כֻּלָּ֤ם יֵחַ֙מּוּ֙ כַּתַּנּ֔וּר וְאָכְל֖וּ אֶת־שֹׁפְטֵיהֶ֑ם כׇּל־מַלְכֵיהֶ֣ם נָפָ֔לוּ אֵין־קֹרֵ֥א בָהֶ֖ם אֵלָֽי׃ They all get heated like an oven
And devour their rulers—
None of them calls to Me.
All their kings have fallen [by their hand].

אֶפְרַ֕יִם בָּעַמִּ֖ים ה֣וּא יִתְבּוֹלָ֑ל אֶפְרַ֛יִם הָיָ֥ה עֻגָ֖ה בְּלִ֥י הֲפוּכָֽה׃ ^gMeaning of verse uncertain. Ephraim is among the peoples;
He is rotting away.
Ephraim is like a cake—
Incapable of turning.

אָכְל֤וּ זָרִים֙ כֹּח֔וֹ וְה֖וּא לֹ֣א יָדָ֑ע גַּם־שֵׂיבָה֙ זָ֣רְקָה בּ֔וֹ וְה֖וּא לֹ֥א יָדָֽע׃ Strangers have consumed his strength,
But he has taken no notice;
Also, mold^hmold Like Akkadian shību; in contrast to others “gray hairs.” is scattered over him,
But he has taken no notice.

וְעָנָ֥ה גְאֽוֹן־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּפָנָ֑יו וְלֹא־שָׁ֙בוּ֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א בִקְשֻׁ֖הוּ בְּכׇל־זֹֽאת׃ Though Israel’s pride has been humbled
Before his very eyes,
They have not turned back
To their God the ETERNAL One —
Whom they have not sought
Despite everything.

וַיְהִ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם כְּיוֹנָ֥ה פוֹתָ֖ה אֵ֣ין לֵ֑ב מִצְרַ֥יִם קָרָ֖אוּ אַשּׁ֥וּר הָלָֽכוּ׃ Instead, Ephraim has acted
Like a silly dove with no mind:
They have appealed to Egypt!
They have gone to Assyria!

כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יֵלֵ֗כוּ אֶפְר֤וֹשׂ עֲלֵיהֶם֙ רִשְׁתִּ֔י כְּע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם אוֹרִידֵ֑ם אַיְסִירֵ֕ם כְּשֵׁ֖מַע לַעֲדָתָֽם׃ {ס}         When they go, I will spread
My net over them,
I will bring them down
Like birds of the sky;
I will chastise them
When I hear their bargaining.ⁱI will chastise them / When I hear their bargaining Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

א֤וֹי לָהֶם֙ כִּֽי־נָדְד֣וּ מִמֶּ֔נִּי שֹׁ֥ד לָהֶ֖ם כִּי־פָ֣שְׁעוּ בִ֑י וְאָנֹכִ֣י אֶפְדֵּ֔ם וְהֵ֕מָּה דִּבְּר֥וּ עָלַ֖י כְּזָבִֽים׃ Woe to them
For straying from Me;
Destruction to them
For rebelling against Me!
For I was their Redeemer;
Yet they have plotted treason against Me.

וְלֹא־זָעֲק֤וּ אֵלַי֙ בְּלִבָּ֔ם כִּ֥י יְיֵלִ֖ילוּ עַל־מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָ֑ם עַל־דָּגָ֧ן וְתִיר֛וֹשׁ יִתְגּוֹרָ֖רוּ יָס֥וּרוּ בִֽי׃ ^jThis verse would read well after 8.2. But they did not cry out to Me sincerely
As they lay wailing.^klay wailing Like true penitents; cf. Isa. 58.5.
They debauch^ldebauch Cf. Aramaic gar/yegur “to commit adultery”; for the thought, cf. 4.11. over new grain and new wine,
They are faithless^mfaithless Taking yasuru as equivalent to yasoru, from sarar; cf. 9.15 end. to Me.

וַאֲנִ֣י יִסַּ֔רְתִּי חִזַּ֖קְתִּי זְרוֹעֹתָ֑ם וְאֵלַ֖י יְחַשְּׁבוּ־רָֽע׃ I braced, I strengthened their arms,
And they plot evil against Me !

יָשׁ֣וּבוּ ׀ לֹ֣א עָ֗ל הָיוּ֙ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּ֔ה יִפְּל֥וּ בַחֶ֛רֶב שָׂרֵיהֶ֖ם מִזַּ֣עַם לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם ז֥וֹ לַעְגָּ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ They come back;
They have been of no use,ⁿThey have been of no use Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Like a slack bow.
Their officers shall fall by the sword,
Because of the stammering^ostammering Cf. Arabic zaghūm and zughmūm “a stammerer.” of their tongues.
Such shall be [the results of] their jabbering^pjabbering I.e., the negotiations conducted in the Egyptian language.
In the land of Egypt.

אֶל־חִכְּךָ֣ שֹׁפָ֔ר כַּנֶּ֖שֶׁר עַל־בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה יַ֚עַן עָבְר֣וּ בְרִיתִ֔י וְעַל־תּוֹרָתִ֖י פָּשָֽׁעוּ׃ [Put] a ram’s horn to your mouth—
Like an eagle^aLike an eagle Meaning of Heb. uncertain. over the House of GOD;^bGOD Emendation yields “Israel.”
Because they have transgressed My covenant
And been faithless to My teaching.

לִ֖י יִזְעָ֑קוּ אֱלֹהַ֥י יְֽדַעֲנ֖וּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Israel cries out to Me,
“O my God, we are devoted to You.”^cFollowing this verse, 7.14 would read well.

זָנַ֥ח יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ט֑וֹב אוֹיֵ֖ב יִרְדְּפֽוֹ׃ Israel rejects what is good;
An enemy shall pursue him.^dAn enemy shall pursue him Emendation yields “They pursue delusion.”

הֵ֤ם הִמְלִ֙יכוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א מִמֶּ֔נִּי הֵשִׂ֖ירוּ וְלֹ֣א יָדָ֑עְתִּי כַּסְפָּ֣ם וּזְהָבָ֗ם עָשׂ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ עֲצַבִּ֔ים לְמַ֖עַן יִכָּרֵֽת׃ They have made kings,
But not with My sanction;
They have made officers,
But not of My choice.
Of their silver and gold
They have made themselves images,
To their own undoing.

זָנַח֙ עֶגְלֵ֣ךְ שֹׁמְר֔וֹן חָרָ֥ה אַפִּ֖י בָּ֑ם עַד־מָתַ֕י לֹ֥א יוּכְל֖וּ נִקָּיֹֽן׃ I reject^eI reject Heb. “He rejects.” your calf, Samaria!
I am furious with them!
Will they never be capable of purity?

כִּ֤י מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְה֔וּא חָרָ֣שׁ עָשָׂ֔הוּ וְלֹ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים ה֑וּא כִּֽי־שְׁבָבִ֣ים יִֽהְיֶ֔ה עֵ֖גֶל שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ For it was Israel’s doing;^fpurity? / For it was Israel’s doing Emendation yields “understanding, / That House of Israel?”
It was only made by a joiner,
It is not a god.
No, the calf of Samaria shall be
Reduced to splinters!

כִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ יִזְרָ֖עוּ וְסוּפָ֣תָה יִקְצֹ֑רוּ קָמָ֣ה אֵֽין־ל֗וֹ צֶ֚מַח בְּלִ֣י יַעֲשֶׂה־קֶּ֔מַח אוּלַ֣י יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה זָרִ֖ים יִבְלָעֻֽהוּ׃ They sow wind,
And they shall reap whirlwind—
Standing stalks devoid of ears
And yielding no flour.
If they do yield any,
Strangers shall devour it.

נִבְלַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עַתָּה֙ הָי֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֔ם כִּכְלִ֖י אֵֽין־חֵ֥פֶץ בּֽוֹ׃ Israel is bewildered;^gbewildered A play on words: The Heb. verb balaʻ, which means “bewildered” here (cf. Isa. 28.7), is a homonym of the verb that means “devour” in the preceding verse.
They have now become among the nations
Like an unwanted vessel,

כִּי־הֵ֙מָּה֙ עָל֣וּ אַשּׁ֔וּר פֶּ֖רֶא בּוֹדֵ֣ד ל֑וֹ אֶפְרַ֖יִם הִתְנ֥וּ אֲהָבִֽים׃ [Like] a lonely wild ass.
For they have gone up to Assyria,
Ephraim has^hEphraim has Emendation yields “In Egypt they have.” courted friendship.

גַּ֛ם כִּֽי־יִתְנ֥וּ בַגּוֹיִ֖ם עַתָּ֣ה אֲקַבְּצֵ֑ם וַיָּחֵ֣לּוּ מְּעָ֔ט מִמַּשָּׂ֖א מֶ֥לֶךְ שָׂרִֽים׃ And while they are courting among the nations,
There I will hold them fast;ⁱThere I will hold them fast Cf. 9.6; but meaning of Heb. uncertain.
And they shall begin to diminish in number
From the burden of king [and] officers.^jAnd they shall begin … officers Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

כִּי־הִרְבָּ֥ה אֶפְרַ֛יִם מִזְבְּח֖וֹת לַחֲטֹ֑א הָיוּ־ל֥וֹ מִזְבְּח֖וֹת לַחֲטֹֽא׃ For Ephraim has multiplied altars—for guilt;
His altars have redounded to his guilt:

(אכתוב) [אֶ֨כְתׇּב־]ל֔וֹ (רבו) [רֻבֵּ֖י] תּוֹרָתִ֑י כְּמוֹ־זָ֖ר נֶחְשָֽׁבוּ׃ The many teachings I wrote for him
Have been treated as something alien.

זִבְחֵ֣י הַבְהָבַ֗י יִזְבְּח֤וּ בָשָׂר֙ וַיֹּאכֵ֔לוּ יְהֹוָ֖ה לֹ֣א רָצָ֑ם עַתָּ֞ה יִזְכֹּ֤ר עֲוֺנָם֙ וְיִפְקֹ֣ד חַטֹּאותָ֔ם הֵ֖מָּה מִצְרַ֥יִם יָשֽׁוּבוּ׃ When they present sacrifices to Me,^kWhen they present sacrifices to Me Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
It is but flesh for them to eat:
GOD has not accepted them.
Behold, their iniquities will be remembered,
Their sins will be punished:
Back to Egypt with them!

וַיִּשְׁכַּ֨ח יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־עֹשֵׂ֗הוּ וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ הֵיכָל֔וֹת וִיהוּדָ֕ה הִרְבָּ֖ה עָרִ֣ים בְּצֻר֑וֹת וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי־אֵ֣שׁ בְּעָרָ֔יו וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנֹתֶֽיהָ׃ {פ}
Israel has ignored his Maker
And built temples
(And Judah has fortified many cities).
So I will set fire to his cities,
And it shall consume their fortresses.

אַל־תִּשְׂמַ֨ח יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל ׀ אֶל־גִּיל֙ כָּעַמִּ֔ים כִּ֥י זָנִ֖יתָ מֵעַ֣ל אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ אָהַ֣בְתָּ אֶתְנָ֔ן עַ֖ל כׇּל־גׇּרְנ֥וֹת דָּגָֽן׃ Rejoice not, O Israel,
As other peoples exult;
For you have strayed
Away from your God:
You have loved a prostitute’s fee
By every threshing floor of new grain.

גֹּ֥רֶן וָיֶ֖קֶב לֹ֣א יִרְעֵ֑ם וְתִיר֖וֹשׁ יְכַ֥חֶשׁ בָּֽהּ׃ Threshing floor and winepress
Shall not join them,
And the new wine shall betray her.^aYou have loved a prostitute’s fee / By every threshing floor of new grain. / Threshing floor and winepress / Shall not join them, / And the new wine shall betray her Emendation and rearrangement yield: “You have loved fornication / By every threshing floor and press; / The new grain shall not join them, / And the new wine shall fail them.”

לֹ֥א יֵשְׁב֖וּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ יְהֹוָ֑ה וְשָׁ֤ב אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ מִצְרַ֔יִם וּבְאַשּׁ֖וּר טָמֵ֥א יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ They shall not be able to remain
In GOD’s land.
But Ephraim shall return to Egypt
And shall eat impure food in Assyria.^beat impure food in Assyria The lands of the heathen and the food there are impure; cf. Ezek. 4.13; Amos 7.17.

לֹא־יִסְּכ֨וּ לַיהֹוָ֥ה ׀ יַ֘יִן֮ וְלֹ֣א יֶעֶרְבוּ־לוֹ֒ זִבְחֵיהֶ֗ם כְּלֶ֤חֶם אוֹנִים֙ לָהֶ֔ם כׇּל־אֹכְלָ֖יו יִטַּמָּ֑אוּ כִּֽי־לַחְמָ֣ם לְנַפְשָׁ֔ם לֹ֥א יָב֖וֹא בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ It shall be for them like the food of mourners,
All who partake of which are defiled.
They will offer no libations of wine to GOD,
And no sacrifices of theirs will please;
But their food will be only for their hunger,
It shall not come into the House of GOD.

מַֽה־תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ לְי֣וֹם מוֹעֵ֑ד וּלְי֖וֹם חַג־יְהֹוָֽה׃ What will you do about feast days,
About the festivals of GOD ?

כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֤ה הָֽלְכוּ֙ מִשֹּׁ֔ד מִצְרַ֥יִם תְּקַבְּצֵ֖ם מֹ֣ף תְּקַבְּרֵ֑ם מַחְמַ֣ד לְכַסְפָּ֗ם קִמּוֹשׂ֙ יִֽירָשֵׁ֔ם ח֖וֹחַ בְּאׇהֳלֵיהֶֽם׃ Behold, they have gone from destruction^cfrom destruction Emendation yields “to Assyria.”
[With] the silver they treasure.
Egypt shall hold them fast,^dhold them fast Cf. 8.10.
Moph^eMoph Believed to be Memphis, elsewhere called Noph. shall receive them in burial.
Weeds are their heirs;
Prickly shrubs occupy their [old] homes.

בָּ֣אוּ ׀ יְמֵ֣י הַפְּקֻדָּ֗ה בָּ֚אוּ יְמֵ֣י הַשִּׁלֻּ֔ם יֵדְע֖וּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֱוִ֣יל הַנָּבִ֗יא מְשֻׁגָּע֙ אִ֣ישׁ הָר֔וּחַ עַ֚ל רֹ֣ב עֲוֺנְךָ֔ וְרַבָּ֖ה מַשְׂטֵמָֽה׃ The days of punishment have come
For your heavy guilt;
The days of requital have come—
Let Israel know it!
The prophet was distraught,
The inspired man driven mad
By constant harassment.

צֹפֶ֥ה אֶפְרַ֖יִם עִם־אֱלֹהָ֑י נָבִ֞יא פַּ֤ח יָקוֹשׁ֙ עַל־כׇּל־דְּרָכָ֔יו מַשְׂטֵמָ֖ה בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהָֽיו׃ Ephraim watches for my God.
As for the prophet,^fmy God. / As for the prophet Emendation yields “the prophet of my God.”
Fowlers’ snares are on all his paths,
Harassment in the House of his God.

הֶעְמִ֥יקוּ שִׁחֵ֖תוּ כִּימֵ֣י הַגִּבְעָ֑ה יִזְכּ֣וֹר עֲוֺנָ֔ם יִפְק֖וֹד חַטֹּאותָֽם׃ {ס}         They have been as grievously corrupt
As in the days of Gibeah;^gthe days of Gibeah See Judg. 19–20.
[God] will remember their iniquity,
And will punish their sins.

כַּעֲנָבִ֣ים בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר מָצָ֙אתִי֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כְּבִכּוּרָ֤הֿ בִתְאֵנָה֙ בְּרֵ֣אשִׁיתָ֔הּ רָאִ֖יתִי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם הֵ֜מָּה בָּ֣אוּ בַֽעַל־פְּע֗וֹר וַיִּנָּֽזְרוּ֙ לַבֹּ֔שֶׁת וַיִּהְי֥וּ שִׁקּוּצִ֖ים כְּאׇהֳבָֽם׃ I found Israel [as pleasing]
As grapes in the wilderness;
Your ancestors seemed to Me
Like the first fig to ripen on a fig tree.^hLike the first fig to ripen on a fig tree Emendation yields “like a ripe fig in a waterless waste”; cf. 13.5.
But when they came to Baal-peor,
They turned aside to shamefulness;ⁱshamefulness Cf. Num. 25.1–3.
Then they became as detested
As they had been loved.^jThen they became … loved Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

אֶפְרַ֕יִם כָּע֖וֹף יִתְעוֹפֵ֣ף כְּבוֹדָ֑ם מִלֵּדָ֥ה וּמִבֶּ֖טֶן וּמֵהֵרָיֽוֹן׃ From birth, from the womb, from conception
Ephraim’s glory shall be
Like birds that fly away.^kV. 16 would read well after this verse.

כִּ֤י אִם־יְגַדְּלוּ֙ אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֔ם וְשִׁכַּלְתִּ֖ים מֵאָדָ֑ם כִּֽי־גַם־א֥וֹי לָהֶ֖ם בְּשׂוּרִ֥י מֵהֶֽם׃ Even if they rear their infants,
I will bereave them of everyone.
Woe to them indeed
When I turn away from them!^lWoe to them indeed / When I turn away from them! Emendation yields: “Even if they wean their babes, / They shall be dismayed because of them.”

אֶפְרַ֛יִם כַּאֲשֶׁר־רָאִ֥יתִי לְצ֖וֹר שְׁתוּלָ֣ה בְנָוֶ֑ה וְאֶפְרַ֕יִם לְהוֹצִ֥יא אֶל־הֹרֵ֖ג בָּנָֽיו׃ It shall go with Ephraim
As I have seen it go with Tyre,
Which was planted in a meadow;^mIt shall go … in a meadow Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Ephraim too must bring out
His children to slayers.

תֵּן־לָהֶ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה מַה־תִּתֵּ֑ן תֵּן־לָהֶם֙ רֶ֣חֶם מַשְׁכִּ֔יל וְשָׁדַ֖יִם צֹמְקִֽים׃ Give them, O ETERNAL One —give them what?
Give them a womb that miscarries,
And shriveled breasts!

כׇּל־רָעָתָ֤ם בַּגִּלְגָּל֙ כִּי־שָׁ֣ם שְׂנֵאתִ֔ים עַ֚ל רֹ֣עַ מַעַלְלֵיהֶ֔ם מִבֵּיתִ֖י אֲגָרְשֵׁ֑ם לֹ֤א אוֹסֵף֙ אַהֲבָתָ֔ם כׇּל־שָׂרֵיהֶ֖ם סֹרְרִֽים׃ All their misfortune [began] at Gilgal,
For there I disowned them.ⁿthem The specific allusion is uncertain.
For their evil deeds
I will drive them out of My House.
I will accept them no more;
All their officials are^oAll their officials are Emendation yields “They are all.” disloyal.

הֻכָּ֣ה אֶפְרַ֔יִם שׇׁרְשָׁ֥ם יָבֵ֖שׁ פְּרִ֣י (בלי) [בַֽל־]יַעֲשׂ֑וּן גַּ֚ם כִּ֣י יֵלֵד֔וּן וְהֵמַתִּ֖י מַחֲמַדֵּ֥י בִטְנָֽם׃ Ephraim^pEphraim Targum reads “Their crown,” i.e., of a tree. is stricken,
Their stock is withered;
They can produce no fruit.
Even if they do bear children,
I will slay their cherished offspring.

יִמְאָסֵ֣ם אֱלֹהַ֔י כִּ֛י לֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ ל֑וֹ וְיִֽהְי֥וּ נֹדְדִ֖ים בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃ {ס}         My God rejects them
Because they have not obeyed,
And they shall go wandering
Among the nations.

גֶּ֤פֶן בּוֹקֵק֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל פְּרִ֖י יְשַׁוֶּה־לּ֑וֹ כְּרֹ֣ב לְפִרְי֗וֹ הִרְבָּה֙ לַֽמִּזְבְּח֔וֹת כְּט֣וֹב לְאַרְצ֔וֹ הֵיטִ֖יבוּ מַצֵּבֽוֹת׃ Israel is a ravaged vine
And its fruit is like it.
When his fruit was plentiful,
He made altars aplenty;
When his land was bountiful,
Cult pillars abounded.

חָלַ֥ק לִבָּ֖ם עַתָּ֣ה יֶאְשָׁ֑מוּ ה֚וּא יַעֲרֹ֣ף מִזְבְּחוֹתָ֔ם יְשֹׁדֵ֖ד מַצֵּבוֹתָֽם׃ Now that his boughs^aboughs Cf. 2 Sam. 18.14, where the word is rendered “thick growth.” are broken up,
He feels his guilt;
He himself pulls apart his altars,
Smashes his pillars.

כִּ֤י עַתָּה֙ יֹֽאמְר֔וּ אֵ֥ין מֶ֖לֶךְ לָ֑נוּ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָרֵ֙אנוּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מַה־יַּעֲשֶׂה־לָּֽנוּ׃ Truly, now they say,
“We have no king;
For, since we do not fear GOD,
What can a king do to us?”

דִּבְּר֣וּ דְבָרִ֔ים אָל֥וֹת שָׁ֖וְא כָּרֹ֣ת בְּרִ֑ית וּפָרַ֤ח כָּרֹאשׁ֙ מִשְׁפָּ֔ט עַ֖ל תַּלְמֵ֥י שָׂדָֽי׃ So they conclude agreements and make covenants
With false oaths,
And justice degenerates into poison weeds,
Breaking out^bdegenerates into poison weeds, / Breaking out Cf. Amos 6.12; lit. “breaks out like poison weeds.” on the furrows of the fields.

לְעֶגְלוֹת֙ בֵּ֣ית אָ֔וֶן יָג֖וּרוּ שְׁכַ֣ן שֹׁמְר֑וֹן כִּֽי־אָבַ֨ל עָלָ֜יו עַמּ֗וֹ וּכְמָרָיו֙ עָלָ֣יו יָגִ֔ילוּ עַל־כְּבוֹד֖וֹ כִּי־גָלָ֥ה מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ The inhabitants of Samaria fear
For the calf of Beth-aven;^cBeth-aven See the second note at 4.15.
Indeed, its people and priestlings,
Whose joy it once was,^dWhose joy it once was Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Mourn over it for the glory
That is departed from it.

גַּם־אוֹתוֹ֙ לְאַשּׁ֣וּר יוּבָ֔ל מִנְחָ֖ה לְמֶ֣לֶךְ יָרֵ֑ב בׇּשְׁנָה֙ אֶפְרַ֣יִם יִקָּ֔ח וְיֵב֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵעֲצָתֽוֹ׃ It too shall be brought to Assyria
As tribute to a patron^epatron See the second note at 5.13. king;
Ephraim shall be chagrined,
Israel shall be dismayed
Because of his plans.^fplans Emendation yields “image,” referring to the calf.

נִדְמֶ֥ה שֹׁמְר֖וֹן מַלְכָּ֑הּ כְּקֶ֖צֶף עַל־פְּנֵי־מָֽיִם׃ Samaria’s monarchy^gmonarchy The Heb. verb agrees with this word, not with “Samaria.” is vanishing
Like foam upon water,

וְנִשְׁמְד֞וּ בָּמ֣וֹת אָ֗וֶן חַטַּאת֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל ק֣וֹץ וְדַרְדַּ֔ר יַעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־מִזְבְּחוֹתָ֑ם וְאָמְר֤וּ לֶהָרִים֙ כַּסּ֔וּנוּ וְלַגְּבָע֖וֹת נִפְל֥וּ עָלֵֽינוּ׃ {פ}
Ruined shall be the shrines of [Beth-]aven,^h[Beth-]aven See the second note at 4.15.
That sin of Israel.
Thorns and thistles
Shall grow on their altars.
They shall call to the mountains, “Bury us!”
To the hills, “Fall on us!”

מִימֵי֙ הַגִּבְעָ֔ה חָטָ֖אתָ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל שָׁ֣ם עָמָ֔דוּ לֹא־תַשִּׂיגֵ֧ם בַּגִּבְעָ֛ה מִלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־בְּנֵ֥י עַֽלְוָֽה׃ You have sinned more, O Israel,
Than in the days of Gibeah.ⁱthe days of Gibeah See note at 9.9.
There they stand [as] at Gibeah!
Shall they not be overtaken
By a war upon scoundrels

בְּאַוָּתִ֖י וְאֶסֳּרֵ֑ם וְאֻסְּפ֤וּ עֲלֵיהֶם֙ עַמִּ֔ים בְּאׇסְרָ֖ם לִשְׁתֵּ֥י (עינתם) [עוֹנֹתָֽם]׃ As peoples gather against them?^jThere they stand … gather against them Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
When I chose [them], I broke them in,
Harnessing them for two furrows.

וְאֶפְרַ֜יִם עֶגְלָ֤ה מְלֻמָּדָה֙ אֹהַ֣בְתִּי לָד֔וּשׁ וַאֲנִ֣י עָבַ֔רְתִּי עַל־ט֖וּב צַוָּארָ֑הּ אַרְכִּ֤יב אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ יַחֲר֣וֹשׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה יְשַׂדֶּד־ל֖וֹ יַעֲקֹֽב׃ Ephraim became a trained heifer,
But preferred to thresh;
I placed a yoke
Upon her sleek neck.^kplaced a yoke / Upon her sleek neck Lit. “passed over the comeliness of its neck.”
I will make Ephraim do advance plowing;^ldo advance plowing Taking rkb in the sense of the Arabic krb.
Judah^mJudah Emendation yields “Israel.” shall do [main] plowing!
Jacob shall do final plowing!

זִרְע֨וּ לָכֶ֤ם לִצְדָקָה֙ קִצְר֣וּ לְפִי־חֶ֔סֶד נִ֥ירוּ לָכֶ֖ם נִ֑יר וְעֵת֙ לִדְר֣וֹשׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה עַד־יָב֕וֹא וְיֹרֶ֥ה צֶ֖דֶק לָכֶֽם׃ “Sow righteousness for yourselves;
Reap the fruits ofⁿthe fruits of Lit. “according to.” goodness;
Break for yourselves betimes fresh ground
Of seeking GOD,
So that you may obtain a teacher^oa teacher Meaning of Heb. uncertain; Septuagint reads “the fruits.” of righteousness.”

חֲרַשְׁתֶּם־רֶ֛שַׁע עַוְלָ֥תָה קְצַרְתֶּ֖ם אֲכַלְתֶּ֣ם פְּרִי־כָ֑חַשׁ כִּי־בָטַ֥חְתָּ בְדַרְכְּךָ֖ בְּרֹ֥ב גִּבּוֹרֶֽיךָ׃ You have plowed wickedness,
You have reaped iniquity—
[And] you shall eat the fruits of treachery—
Because you relied on your way,^pway Septuagint reads “chariots.”
On your host of warriors.

וְקָ֣אם שָׁאוֹן֮ בְּעַמֶּ֒ךָ֒ וְכׇל־מִבְצָרֶ֣יךָ יוּשַּׁ֔ד כְּשֹׁ֧ד שַֽׁלְמַ֛ן בֵּ֥ית אַֽרְבֵ֖אל בְּי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה אֵ֥ם עַל־בָּנִ֖ים רֻטָּֽשָׁה׃ But the din of war shall arise in your own people,
And all your fortresses shall be ravaged
As Beth-arbel was ravaged by Shalman^qShalman Perhaps identical with the Shallum of 2 Kings 15.10ff.; cf. the atrocities of Shallum’s rival in 15.16.
On a day of battle,
When mothers and babes were dashed to death together.

כָּ֗כָה עָשָׂ֤ה לָכֶם֙ בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל מִפְּנֵ֖י רָעַ֣ת רָעַתְכֶ֑ם בַּשַּׁ֕חַר נִדְמֹ֥ה נִדְמָ֖ה מֶ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ This is what Bethel has done to you^ris what Bethel has done to you Emendation yields “will I do to you, O House of Israel.”
For your horrible wickedness:
At dawn^sAt dawn Meaning, perhaps, “swiftly as the dawn”; cf. v. 7 above, “like foam upon water.” shall Israel’s monarchy
Utterly perish.

כִּ֛י נַ֥עַר יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וָאֹהֲבֵ֑הוּ וּמִמִּצְרַ֖יִם קָרָ֥אתִי לִבְנִֽי׃ I fell in love with Israel
When he was still a child;
And I have called [him] My son
Ever since Egypt.

קָרְא֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם כֵּ֚ן הָלְכ֣וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם לַבְּעָלִ֣ים יְזַבֵּ֔חוּ וְלַפְּסִלִ֖ים יְקַטֵּרֽוּן׃ ^aMeaning of parts of vv. 2–7 uncertain. Thus were they called,
But they went their own way;
They sacrifice to Baalim^bBaalim Emendation yields “calves”; cf. 8.4–6; 13.2.
And offer to carved images.

וְאָנֹכִ֤י תִרְגַּ֙לְתִּי֙ לְאֶפְרַ֔יִם קָחָ֖ם עַל־זְרוֹעֹתָ֑יו וְלֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּ כִּ֥י רְפָאתִֽים׃ I have pampered Ephraim,
Taking them in My^cMy Heb. “his.” arms;^dpampered Ephraim, / Taking them in My arms; Or “taught Ephraim to walk, / Taking him by his arms.”
But they have ignored
My healing care.

בְּחַבְלֵ֨י אָדָ֤ם אֶמְשְׁכֵם֙ בַּעֲבֹת֣וֹת אַהֲבָ֔ה וָאֶהְיֶ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם כִּמְרִ֥ימֵי עֹ֖ל עַ֣ל לְחֵיהֶ֑ם וְאַ֥ט אֵלָ֖יו אוֹכִֽיל׃ I drew them with human ties,^ehuman ties Perhaps the ropes with which parents gently teach their children to walk; cf. Rashi, Kimhi.
With cords of love;
But I seemed to them as one
Who imposed a yoke on their jaws,
Though I was offering them food.^fBut I seemed to them as one / Who imposed a yoke on their jaws, / Though I was offering them food. Or “I became to them like those / Who lift the harness from their mouths, / And I stooped and fed them.”

לֹ֤א יָשׁוּב֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וְאַשּׁ֖וּר ה֣וּא מַלְכּ֑וֹ כִּ֥י מֵאֲנ֖וּ לָשֽׁוּב׃ No!
They return to the land of Egypt,
And Assyria is their king.
Because they refuse to repent,

וְחָלָ֥ה חֶ֙רֶב֙ בְּעָרָ֔יו וְכִלְּתָ֥ה בַדָּ֖יו וְאָכָ֑לָה מִֽמֹּעֲצ֖וֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ A sword shall descend upon their towns^gtowns Emendation yields “bodies,” lit. “skins”; cf. Job 18.13.
And consume their limbs
And devour [them] because of their designs.^h[them] because of their designs Emendation yields “their bones.”

וְעַמִּ֥י תְלוּאִ֖ים לִמְשׁוּבָתִ֑י וְאֶל־עַל֙ יִקְרָאֻ֔הוּ יַ֖חַד לֹ֥א יְרוֹמֵֽם׃ For My people persists
In its defection from Me;
When it is summoned upward,
It does not rise at all.ⁱFor My people … rise at all Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

אֵ֞יךְ אֶתֶּנְךָ֣ אֶפְרַ֗יִם אֲמַגֶּנְךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵ֚יךְ אֶתֶּנְךָ֣ כְאַדְמָ֔ה אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֖ כִּצְבֹאיִ֑ם נֶהְפַּ֤ךְ עָלַי֙ לִבִּ֔י יַ֖חַד נִכְמְר֥וּ נִֽחוּמָֽי׃ How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How surrender you, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah,
Render you like Zeboiim?^jAdmah…Zeboiim Towns that were destroyed along with neighboring Sodom and Gomorrah; cf. Gen. 10.19; 14.2, 8; Deut. 29.22.
I have had a change of heart,
All My tenderness is stirred.

לֹ֤א אֶֽעֱשֶׂה֙ חֲר֣וֹן אַפִּ֔י לֹ֥א אָשׁ֖וּב לְשַׁחֵ֣ת אֶפְרָ֑יִם כִּ֣י אֵ֤ל אָנֹכִי֙ וְלֹא־אִ֔ישׁ בְּקִרְבְּךָ֣ קָד֔וֹשׁ וְלֹ֥א אָב֖וֹא בְּעִֽיר׃ I will not act on My wrath,
Will not turn to destroy Ephraim.
For I am God—not human—
The Holy One in your midst:
I will not come in fury.^kThe Holy One … in fury Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

אַחֲרֵ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה יֵלְכ֖וּ כְּאַרְיֵ֣ה יִשְׁאָ֑ג כִּֽי־ה֣וּא יִשְׁאַ֔ג וְיֶחֶרְד֥וּ בָנִ֖ים מִיָּֽם׃ GOD will roar like a lion—
Whom they shall march behind;
With that roar, God’s children shall come
Fluttering out of the west.

יֶחֶרְד֤וּ כְצִפּוֹר֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם וּכְיוֹנָ֖ה מֵאֶ֣רֶץ אַשּׁ֑וּר וְהוֹשַׁבְתִּ֥ים עַל־בָּתֵּיהֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         They shall flutter from Egypt like sparrows,
From the land of Assyria like doves;
And I will settle them in their homes
—declares GOD.

סְבָבֻ֤נִֽי בְכַ֙חַשׁ֙ אֶפְרַ֔יִם וּבְמִרְמָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וִיהוּדָ֗ה עֹ֥ד רָד֙ עִם־אֵ֔ל וְעִם־קְדוֹשִׁ֖ים נֶאֱמָֽן׃ Ephraim surrounds Me with deceit,
The House of Israel with guile.^asurrounds Me … with guile I.e., the deceit and guile that they practice on each other (below vv. 8–9) is constantly noted by GOD.
(But Judah stands firm with God
And is faithful to the Holy One.)^b(But Judah … the Holy One.) Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

אֶפְרַ֜יִם רֹעֶ֥ה ר֙וּחַ֙ וְרֹדֵ֣ף קָדִ֔ים כׇּל־הַיּ֕וֹם כָּזָ֥ב וָשֹׁ֖ד יַרְבֶּ֑ה וּבְרִית֙ עִם־אַשּׁ֣וּר יִכְרֹ֔תוּ וְשֶׁ֖מֶן לְמִצְרַ֥יִם יוּבָֽל׃ Ephraim tends the wind
And pursues the gale;
He is forever adding
Illusion to calamity.^ccalamity Septuagint reads “futility.”
Now they make a covenant with Assyria,
Now oil is carried to Egypt.^dNow they make a covenant with Assyria / Now oil is carried to Egypt I.e., they foolishly depend on alliances instead of on GOD; cf. 5.13; 7.10–11.

וְרִ֥יב לַיהֹוָ֖ה עִם־יְהוּדָ֑ה וְלִפְקֹ֤ד עַֽל־יַעֲקֹב֙ כִּדְרָכָ֔יו כְּמַעֲלָלָ֖יו יָשִׁ֥יב לֽוֹ׃ GOD once indicted Judah,^eJudah Presumably the patriarch Judah. Emendation would yield “Israel”; cf. next note.
And punished Jacob for his conduct,
Requited him for his deeds.

בַּבֶּ֖טֶן עָקַ֣ב אֶת־אָחִ֑יו וּבְאוֹנ֖וֹ שָׂרָ֥ה אֶת־אֱלֹהִֽים׃ In the womb he tried to supplant his brother;
Grown to manhood, he strove with a divine being,^fCf. Gen. 25.26; 32.29.

וַיָּ֤שַׂר אֶל־מַלְאָךְ֙ וַיֻּכָ֔ל בָּכָ֖ה וַיִּתְחַנֶּן־ל֑וֹ בֵּֽית־אֵל֙ יִמְצָאֶ֔נּוּ וְשָׁ֖ם יְדַבֵּ֥ר עִמָּֽנוּ׃ He strove with an angel and prevailed—
The other had to weep and implore him.
At Bethel [Jacob] would meet him,
There to commune with him.^ghim Heb. “us.”

וַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַצְּבָא֑וֹת יְהֹוָ֖ה זִכְרֽוֹ׃ Yet the ETERNAL, the God of Hosts,
Must be invoked as “ GOD.”^has “GOD” I.e., one should not invoke any of the angelic hosts.

וְאַתָּ֖ה בֵּאלֹהֶ֣יךָ תָשׁ֑וּב חֶ֤סֶד וּמִשְׁפָּט֙ שְׁמֹ֔ר וְקַוֵּ֥ה אֶל־אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ תָּמִֽיד׃ You must return to your God!
Practice goodness and justice,
And constantly trust in your God.

כְּנַ֗עַן בְּיָד֛וֹ מֹאזְנֵ֥י מִרְמָ֖ה לַעֲשֹׁ֥ק אָהֵֽב׃ A trader who uses false balances,
Who loves to overreach,

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶפְרַ֔יִם אַ֣ךְ עָשַׁ֔רְתִּי מָצָ֥אתִי א֖וֹן לִ֑י כׇּל־יְגִיעַ֕י לֹ֥א יִמְצְאוּ־לִ֖י עָוֺ֥ן אֲשֶׁר־חֵֽטְא׃ Ephraim thinks,
“Ah, I have become rich;
I have gotten power!
All my gains do not amount
To an offense that is real guilt.”ⁱAll my gains … real guilt Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וְאָנֹכִ֛י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם עֹ֛ד אוֹשִֽׁיבְךָ֥ בׇאֳהָלִ֖ים כִּימֵ֥י מוֹעֵֽד׃ I the ETERNAL have been your God
Ever since the land of Egypt.
I will let you dwell in your tents^jin your tents I.e., securely; see 2 Kings 13.5. again
As in the days of old,^kold Lit. “a fixed season.”

וְדִבַּ֙רְתִּי֙ עַל־הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים וְאָנֹכִ֖י חָז֣וֹן הִרְבֵּ֑יתִי וּבְיַ֥ד הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים אֲדַמֶּֽה׃ When I spoke to the prophets;
For I granted many visions,
And spoke parables through the prophets.

אִם־גִּלְעָ֥ד אָ֙וֶן֙ אַךְ־שָׁ֣וְא הָי֔וּ בַּגִּלְגָּ֖ל שְׁוָרִ֣ים זִבֵּ֑חוּ גַּ֤ם מִזְבְּחוֹתָם֙ כְּגַלִּ֔ים עַ֖ל תַּלְמֵ֥י שָׂדָֽי׃ As for Gilead, it is worthless;
And to no purpose^lAnd spoke parables … no purpose Meaning of Heb. uncertain. have they
Been sacrificing oxen in Gilgal:
The altars of these are also
Like stone heaps upon a plowed field.^mLike stone heaps upon a plowed field I.e., the cults of Gilead and Gilgal are as worthless as that of Bethel.

וַיִּבְרַ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב שְׂדֵ֣ה אֲרָ֑ם וַיַּעֲבֹ֤ד יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּאִשָּׁ֔ה וּבְאִשָּׁ֖ה שָׁמָֽר׃ Then Jacob had to fleeⁿhad to flee This is the punishment mentioned in v. 3. to the land of Aram;
There Israel served for a wife,
For a wife he had to guard [sheep].

וּבְנָבִ֕יא הֶעֱלָ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וּבְנָבִ֖יא נִשְׁמָֽר׃ But when GOD
Brought Israel up from Egypt,
It was through a prophet;^othrough a prophet I.e., not through an angel.
Through a prophet^pThrough a prophet See previous note. they were guarded.

הִכְעִ֥יס אֶפְרַ֖יִם תַּמְרוּרִ֑ים וְדָמָיו֙ עָלָ֣יו יִטּ֔וֹשׁ וְחֶ֨רְפָּת֔וֹ יָשִׁ֥יב ל֖וֹ אֲדֹנָֽיו׃ ^qMeaning of this verse and the next uncertain. Ephraim gave bitter offense,
And his Lord cast his crimes upon him
And requited him for his mockery.

כְּדַבֵּ֤ר אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ רְתֵ֔ת נָשָׂ֥א ה֖וּא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֶּאְשַׁ֥ם בַּבַּ֖עַל וַיָּמֹֽת׃ When Ephraim spoke piety,
He was exalted in Israel;
But he incurred guilt through Baal,^aBaal I.e., Baal-peor; cf. 9.10.
And so he died.

וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ יוֹסִ֣פוּ לַחֲטֹ֗א וַיַּעֲשׂ֣וּ לָהֶם֩ מַסֵּכָ֨ה מִכַּסְפָּ֤ם כִּתְבוּנָם֙ עֲצַבִּ֔ים מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חָרָשִׁ֖ים כֻּלֹּ֑ה לָהֶם֙ הֵ֣ם אֹמְרִ֔ים זֹבְחֵ֣י אָדָ֔ם עֲגָלִ֖ים יִשָּׁקֽוּן׃ And now they go on sinning;
They have made them molten images,
Idols, by their skill, from their silver,
Wholly the work of artisans.
Yet for these they appoint people to sacrifice;^bYet for these they appoint people to sacrifice Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
They are wont to kiss calves!

לָכֵ֗ן יִֽהְיוּ֙ כַּעֲנַן־בֹּ֔קֶר וְכַטַּ֖ל מַשְׁכִּ֣ים הֹלֵ֑ךְ כְּמֹץ֙ יְסֹעֵ֣ר מִגֹּ֔רֶן וּכְעָשָׁ֖ן מֵאֲרֻבָּֽה׃ Assuredly,
They shall be like morning clouds,
Like dew so early gone;
Like chaff whirled away from the threshing floor.
And like smoke from a lattice.

וְאָנֹכִ֛י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וֵאלֹהִ֤ים זוּלָתִי֙ לֹ֣א תֵדָ֔ע וּמוֹשִׁ֥יעַ אַ֖יִן בִּלְתִּֽי׃ Only I the ETERNAL One have been your God
Ever since the land of Egypt;
You have never known a [true] God but Me,
You have never had a helper other than Me.

אֲנִ֥י יְדַעְתִּ֖יךָ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר בְּאֶ֖רֶץ תַּלְאֻבֽוֹת׃ I looked after you in the desert,
In a thirsty land.

כְּמַרְעִיתָם֙ וַיִּשְׂבָּ֔עוּ שָׂבְע֖וּ וַיָּ֣רׇם לִבָּ֑ם עַל־כֵּ֖ן שְׁכֵחֽוּנִי׃ When they grazed, they were sated;
When they were sated, they grew haughty;
And so they forgot Me.

וָאֱהִ֥י לָהֶ֖ם כְּמוֹ־שָׁ֑חַל כְּנָמֵ֖ר עַל־דֶּ֥רֶךְ אָשֽׁוּר׃ So I am become like a lion to them,
Like a leopard I lurk on the way;

אֶפְגְּשֵׁם֙ כְּדֹ֣ב שַׁכּ֔וּל וְאֶקְרַ֖ע סְג֣וֹר לִבָּ֑ם וְאֹכְלֵ֥ם שָׁם֙ כְּלָבִ֔יא חַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה תְּבַקְּעֵֽם׃ Like a bear robbed of her young I attack them
And rip open the casing of their hearts;
I will devour them there like a lion,^cI will devour them there like a lion Emendation yields “There dogs shall devour them”; cf. Septuagint.
The beasts of the field shall mangle them.

שִׁחֶתְךָ֥ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כִּי־בִ֥י בְעֶזְרֶֽךָ׃ ^dMeaning of verse uncertain. You are undone, O Israel!
You had no help but Me.

אֱהִ֤י מַלְכְּךָ֙ אֵפ֔וֹא וְיוֹשִׁיעֲךָ֖ בְּכׇל־עָרֶ֑יךָ וְשֹׁ֣פְטֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔רְתָּ תְּנָה־לִּ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ וְשָׂרִֽים׃ Where now is your king?
Let him save you!
Where are the chieftains in all your towns
From whom you demanded:
“Give me a king and officers”?

אֶֽתֶּן־לְךָ֥ מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ בְּאַפִּ֔י וְאֶקַּ֖ח בְּעֶבְרָתִֽי׃ {פ}
I give you kings in My ire,
And take them away in My wrath.

צָרוּר֙ עֲוֺ֣ן אֶפְרָ֔יִם צְפוּנָ֖ה חַטָּאתֽוֹ׃ Ephraim’s guilt is bound up,
His sin is stored away.^estored away For future retribution.

חֶבְלֵ֥י יוֹלֵדָ֖ה יָבֹ֣אוּ ל֑וֹ הוּא־בֵן֙ לֹ֣א חָכָ֔ם כִּי־עֵ֥ת לֹֽא־יַעֲמֹ֖ד בְּמִשְׁבַּ֥ר בָּנִֽים׃ Pangs of childbirth assail him,
And the babe is not wise—
For this is no time to survive
At the birthstool of babes.^fAnd the babe … birthstool of babes Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

מִיַּ֤ד שְׁאוֹל֙ אֶפְדֵּ֔ם מִמָּ֖וֶת אֶגְאָלֵ֑ם אֱהִ֨י דְבָרֶ֜יךָ מָ֗וֶת אֱהִ֤י קׇֽטׇבְךָ֙ שְׁא֔וֹל נֹ֖חַם יִסָּתֵ֥ר מֵעֵינָֽי׃ ^gThis verse would read well before 14.5. From Sheol itself I will save them,
Redeem them from very Death.
Where, O Death, are your plagues?
Your pestilence where, O Sheol?
Revenge shall be far from My thoughts.^hRevenge shall be far from My thoughts Lit. “Satisfaction (for this meaning of nḥm see Deut. 32.36; Isa. 1.24) shall be hidden from My eyes.”

כִּ֣י ה֔וּא בֵּ֥ין אַחִ֖ים יַפְרִ֑יא יָב֣וֹא קָדִים֩ ר֨וּחַ יְהֹוָ֜ה מִמִּדְבָּ֣ר עֹלֶ֗ה וְיֵב֤וֹשׁ מְקוֹרוֹ֙ וְיֶחֱרַ֣ב מַעְיָנ֔וֹ ה֣וּא יִשְׁסֶ֔ה אוֹצַ֖ר כׇּל־כְּלִ֥י חֶמְדָּֽה׃ For though he flourish among reeds,
A blast, a wind of GOD,
Shall come blowing up from the wilderness;
His fountain shall be parched,
His spring dried up.
That [wind] shall plunder treasures,
Every lovely object.

תֶּאְשַׁם֙ שֹׁמְר֔וֹן כִּ֥י מָרְתָ֖ה בֵּאלֹהֶ֑יהָ בַּחֶ֣רֶב יִפֹּ֔לוּ עֹלְלֵיהֶ֣ם יְרֻטָּ֔שׁוּ וְהָרִיּוֹתָ֖יו יְבֻקָּֽעוּ׃ {פ}
Samaria must bear her guilt,
For she has defied her God.
They shall fall by the sword,
Their infants shall be dashed to death,
And their women with child ripped open.

שׁ֚וּבָה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּ֥י כָשַׁ֖לְתָּ בַּעֲוֺנֶֽךָ׃ Return, O Israel, to the ETERNAL your God,
For you have fallen because of your sin.

קְח֤וּ עִמָּכֶם֙ דְּבָרִ֔ים וְשׁ֖וּבוּ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה אִמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו כׇּל־תִּשָּׂ֤א עָוֺן֙ וְקַח־ט֔וֹב וּֽנְשַׁלְּמָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים שְׂפָתֵֽינוּ׃ Take words with you
And return to GOD.
Say:
“Forgive all guilt
And accept what is good;
Instead of bulls we will pay
[The offering of] our lips.^aForgive … lips Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

אַשּׁ֣וּר ׀ לֹ֣א יוֹשִׁיעֵ֗נוּ עַל־סוּס֙ לֹ֣א נִרְכָּ֔ב וְלֹא־נֹ֥אמַר ע֛וֹד אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ לְמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדֵ֑ינוּ אֲשֶׁר־בְּךָ֖ יְרֻחַ֥ם יָתֽוֹם׃ Assyria shall not save us,
No more will we ride on steeds;^bNo more will we ride on steeds I.e., we will no longer depend on an alliance with Egypt; cf. 2 Kings 18.24 (Isa. 36.9); Isa. 30.16.
Nor ever again will we call
Our handiwork our god,
Since in You alone orphans find pity!”^cpity I.e., parental compassion (cf. Ps. 103.13) or legal affiliation (cf. Hos. 2.6, 25).

אֶרְפָּא֙ מְשׁ֣וּבָתָ֔ם אֹהֲבֵ֖ם נְדָבָ֑ה כִּ֛י שָׁ֥ב אַפִּ֖י מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ I will heal their affliction,^daffliction For this meaning of meshubah see Jer. 2.19; 3.22.
Generously will I take them back in love;
For My anger has turned away from them.^ethem Heb. “him.”

אֶהְיֶ֤ה כַטַּל֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִפְרַ֖ח כַּשּׁוֹשַׁנָּ֑ה וְיַ֥ךְ שׇׁרָשָׁ֖יו כַּלְּבָנֽוֹן׃ I will be to Israel like dew;
He shall blossom like the lily,
He shall strike root like a Lebanon tree.^fLebanon tree Emendation yields “poplar.”

יֵֽלְכוּ֙ יֹֽנְקוֹתָ֔יו וִיהִ֥י כַזַּ֖יִת הוֹד֑וֹ וְרֵ֥יחַֽ ל֖וֹ כַּלְּבָנֽוֹן׃ His boughs shall spread out far,
His beauty shall be like the olive tree’s,
His fragrance like that of Lebanon.

יָשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י בְצִלּ֔וֹ יְחַיּ֥וּ דָגָ֖ן וְיִפְרְח֣וּ כַגָּ֑פֶן זִכְר֖וֹ כְּיֵ֥ין לְבָנֽוֹן׃ They who sit in his shade shall be revived:
They shall bring to life new grain,
They shall blossom like the vine;
His scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon.^gLebanon Emendation yields “Helbon”; cf. Ezek. 27.18.

אֶפְרַ֕יִם מַה־לִּ֥י ע֖וֹד לָעֲצַבִּ֑ים אֲנִ֧י עָנִ֣יתִי וַאֲשׁוּרֶ֗נּוּ אֲנִי֙ כִּבְר֣וֹשׁ רַעֲנָ֔ן מִמֶּ֖נִּי פֶּרְיְךָ֥ נִמְצָֽא׃ Ephraim [shall say]:
“What more have I to do with idols?
When I respond and look to [God],
I become like a verdant cypress.”
Your fruit is provided by Me.^hYour fruit is provided by Me Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

מִ֤י חָכָם֙ וְיָ֣בֵֽן אֵ֔לֶּה נָב֖וֹן וְיֵדָעֵ֑ם כִּֽי־יְשָׁרִ֞ים דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה וְצַדִּקִים֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔ם וּפֹשְׁעִ֖ים יִכָּ֥שְׁלוּ בָֽם׃ The wise will consider these words,
The prudent will take note of them.
For the paths of GOD are smooth;
The righteous can walk on them,
While sinners stumble on them.