1 The word of Jehovah that came to 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.

2 When Jehovah first spoke through Hosea, Jehovah said to Hosea, »Go and marry an adulterous wife and have children with her for the land commits flagrant adultery. They have abandoned Jehovah.«

3 So he took as his wife Gomer the daughter of Diblaim. She conceived, and gave birth to a son.

4 Jehovah said to Hosea: »Name him Jezreel. In a little while I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu. I will cause the kingdom of Israel to cease.

5 »It will happen that I will break the bow strength of Israel in the valley of Jezrell.«

6 Gomer conceived again, and gave birth to a daughter. Jehovah said to Hosea: »Name her Loruhamah for I will no longer have mercy upon the house of Israel and I will not pardon them.

7 »However I will have mercy compassionlove on the house of Judah. I will not save them by bow, or by sword. I will not save them by battle, not by horses, nor by horsemen. However, I will save them by Jehovah their God.«

8 Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, Gomer conceived, and gave birth to another son.

9 Jehovah said: »Name him Loammi for you are not my people, and I am not your God.

10 »Yet the number of the children of Israel will be like the grains of the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. It will be said: You are the sons of the living God in the place where it was said you are not my people!

11 »The children of Judah and the children of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will leave the land of Jezreel. It will be a great day for Jezreel.«