1Do not rejoice, O Israel, or be jubilant like other nations; for you have been unfaithful to your God, you have loved the prostitute’s reward on every threshing floor. 2The threshing floor and the winepress shall not feed the people, and the new wine shall fail them. 3They shall not remain in the LORD's land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean foods in Assyria. 4They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, nor shall their offerings be pleasing to Him; their sacrifices shall be to them like the bread of mourners; all that eat it shall be polluted; they may eat for themselves, but it shall not come into the Temple of the LORD. 5What will you do in the day of your solemn festivals, and in the feast days of the LORD? 6For even if you escape destruction; Egypt shall conquer you; Memphis shall bury you/ Their treasures of silver will be replaced by nettles and their tents infested by thorns.

7The days of judgment are coming, the days of reckoning have come; Israel shall know this all too well: because her sins are so many and her hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac. 8The prophet is a watchman over Ephraim for my God; but they lay traps along all the paths of the prophet and he faces hatred in the house of his God. 9They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah (Judges 19;12-20:43) therefore, He will remember their iniquity, He will judge and punish their sins.

10“When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers (ancestors) as the first-ripe fruit on the fig tree; but they went to Baal-peor, and separated themselves to that shameful idol; and their abominations were as vile as the idols they loved. 11As for Ephraim, his glory shall fly away like a bird - no birth, no pregnancy, no conception. 12Even though you bring up your children, yet I will bereave you of them, that none shall be left. Woe to you when I depart from you!” 13I (Hosea) have watched Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place, but Ephraim shall bring out his children for slaughter. 14Give them, O LORD - what will You give them? Give them wombs that miscarry, and dry breasts. 15“Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal; I hated them there. For their wicked doings I will drive them out of My house, I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious. 16Ephraim is blighted, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit; yea, if they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb. 17My (Hosea’s) God will reject them, because they did not listen to Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.