\NormalFont\ShortTitle{HOSEA}

{\MTB This book contains the account of Hosea telling about the Israeli people rejecting God, and foretelling about God punishing and restoring them. We call this book

\par }{\MT Hosea



\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{I am}} Hosea, the son of Beeri. Yahweh gave me these messages
{\ADD{at various times}} during the years that Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were the kings of Judah, and Jeroboam the son of Jehoash was the King of Israel.


\par }{\SH Hosea’s wife and children
\par }
{\PP \VS{2}When Yahweh first
{\ADD{began to}} give messages to me
{\ADD{to tell to the people of Israel}}, he said to me, “Go and marry a prostitute. But
{\ADD{some of}} her children will be born as a result of her having sex with men to whom she is not married. That will illustrate how the people of Israel have turned away from me and worship ◄idols/other gods►.”

\VS{3}So I married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. She became pregnant and gave birth to my son.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}Yahweh said to me, “Give him the name Jezreel,
{\ADD{which means ‘God scatters’}}, because I will soon punish the descendants [MTY] of
{\ADD{King}} Jehu
{\ADD{by scattering them}}, because he killed many of my people at Jezreel
{\ADD{town}}.
{\ADD{Some day}} I will end the kingdom of Israel,

\VS{5}by destroying the power [MTY] of
{\ADD{the army of}} Israel in Jezreel Valley.”


\par }{\PP \VS{6}{\ADD{Later}} Gomer became pregnant
{\ADD{again}}, and she gave birth to a daughter. Yahweh said to me “Give her the name Lo-ruhamah,
{\ADD{which means ‘not loved}},’ because I will no longer
{\ADD{show that I}} love the people [MET] of Israel, and I will not forgive them
{\ADD{for the sins that they have committed}}.

\VS{7}But I will
{\ADD{show that I}} love the people [MTY] of Judah
{\ADD{by saving them from their enemies}}. However, it will not be by weapons and armies or horses and chariots that I will save them. Instead, it will be by
{\ADD{the power that I}}, Yahweh their God,
{\ADD{have}}.”


\par }{\PP \VS{8}After Gomer had ◄weaned/stopped breast-feeding► Lo-ruhamah, she became pregnant again, and she gave birth to another son.

\VS{9}Yahweh said “Give him the name Lo-ammi,
{\ADD{which means 'not my people',}} because the people of Israel are no
{\ADD{longer my people}}, and I am not their God.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}But
{\ADD{some day}} the people of Israel will be
{\ADD{as numerous}} as [SIM] the
{\ADD{grains of}} sand on the seashore; no one will be able to count them. Now
{\ADD{I}} am saying to them, ‘You are not my people,’ but then people will say to them, ‘{\ADD{You are the}} children of God who is all-powerful.’

\VS{11}{\ADD{At that time}}, the people of Judah and the people of Israel will unite. They will appoint one leader for all of them, and they will return from the countries
{\ADD{to which they have been ◄exiled/forced to go►}}. That will be a great time; Jezreel
{\ADD{also means ‘God plants’, and it will be as though God will plant them in this country again}}.”




\par }\Chap{2}{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{At that time,}} you will say to your fellow-Israeli men, “{\ADD{You are}} God’s people,” and
{\ADD{you will say}} to your fellow-Israeli women, “You are ones whom God loves.”


\par }{\SH Israel will be punished and later restored
\par }
{\Q \VS{2}{\ADD{Yahweh also said to me}}, “I want you to accuse the Israeli people.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{It is as though}} [MET] this nation is your mother,

\par }{\Q but this nation is
{\ADD{no longer as though it is}} [MET] my wife,

\par }{\QB and it is
{\ADD{no longer as though}} [MET] I am its husband.

\par }{\Q Tell the Israeli people that they must stop
{\ADD{acting like}} a prostitute
{\ADD{by worshiping other gods}};

\par }{\QB they must stop showing by their behavior that they ◄are unfaithful to/have abandoned►
{\ADD{me}} [MET].


\par }{\Q \VS{3}If they do not do that,

\par }{\QB I will not give them
{\ADD{food and}} clothes
{\ADD{as a husband should give to his wife}};

\par }{\Q I will take away those things,

\par }{\QB and I will cause their nation to become
{\ADD{as deserted}} as it was on the day that I
{\ADD{brought their ancestors out of Egypt and caused them to become a nation}} [MET].

\par }{\Q I will cause their country to be like [SIM] a desert;

\par }{\QB there will be no rain to water the ground [MET].


\par }{\Q \VS{4}I will not pity the people,

\par }{\QB because they have
{\ADD{abandoned me}} as [MET] prostitutes abandon their husbands.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}Their parents are like prostitutes [MET]: they have been unfaithful
{\ADD{to me}},

\par }{\QB and they have done
{\ADD{very}} disgraceful things.

\par }{\Q They said, ‘We will run to
{\ADD{our idols/gods}} who love us;

\par }{\QB {\ADD{they are the ones}} who give us food and water

\par }{\QB and wool and linen and
{\ADD{olive}} oil, and
{\ADD{wine to}} drink.’


\par }{\Q \VS{6}So
{\ADD{it will be as though}} [MET] I am blocking their road with thornbushes,

\par }{\Q and putting put a wall around them

\par }{\QB so that they do not know which way to go.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}They will run to their idols/gods that
{\ADD{they think}} love them,

\par }{\QB but they will not find them.

\par }{\Q They will search for their false gods,

\par }{\QB but they will not find them.

\par }{\Q Then they will say, ‘{\ADD{Perhaps}} we should return to
{\ADD{Yahweh}}, whom we worshiped previously [MET],

\par }{\QB because things were better for us then than they are now.’


\par }{\Q \VS{8}But they do not realize that I,
{\ADD{Yahweh}}, am the one who gave them grain and wine and
{\ADD{olive}} oil;

\par }{\QB I am the one who gave them silver and gold

\par }{\Q which they used to worship Baal.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Therefore I will return and take my grain and grapes from them when they are ripe.

\par }{\QB I will take from them the wool and linen that I gave to them
{\ADD{to make their clothes}} [MTY].


\par }{\Q \VS{10}I will show those false gods/idols that what my people are doing is disgusting [MET],

\par }{\QB and no one will be able to hinder me from
{\ADD{punishing them}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}I will cause their religious celebrations to cease,

\par }{\QB the festivals that they celebrate every year and at every new moon and on their ◄Sabbath days/weekly days of rest►.

\par }{\QB I will cause all their religious celebrations to cease.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}I will destroy
{\ADD{all}} their grapevines and fig trees,

\par }{\QB which they said were what their
{\ADD{idols/gods}} who loved them paid them for worshiping those idols.

\par }{\Q I will cause those places to become a desert,

\par }{\QB and wild animals will eat the fruit
{\ADD{that remains}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}I will punish my people for
{\ADD{all}} the times that they burned incense to
{\ADD{honor}} the idols of Baal.

\par }{\Q They decorated themselves with rings and jewelry,

\par }{\QB and they went to worship those
{\ADD{false gods/idols}} that
{\ADD{they thought}} [IRO] loved them,

\par }{\QB but they abandoned/forgot me!

\par }{\Q {\ADD{That is what I}}, Yahweh, say.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{14}But listen!
{\ADD{Some day}} I will persuade my people
{\ADD{to worship me again}};

\par }{\QB I will lead them
{\ADD{out}} into the desert

\par }{\QB and speak kindly to them
{\ADD{there}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}I will give their vineyards
{\ADD{back}} to them,

\par }{\QB and I will cause Achor Valley,
{\ADD{which means ‘valley of trouble'}}, to become a valley where they will confidently expect
{\ADD{me to do good things for them}}.

\par }{\Q They will ◄respond to/want to please► me there

\par }{\QB like they did long ago,

\par }{\QB when I freed them from
{\ADD{being slaves in}} Egypt.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{16}At that time,

\par }{\QB they will say to me, ‘{\ADD{It is as though}} [MET] you are our husband.’

\par }{\QB They will not say that I am their
{\ADD{master, like they considered that}} Baal
{\ADD{was}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}I will not allow them to speak [MTY] the names of Baal;

\par }{\QB they will never use those names again.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}At that time
{\ADD{it will be as though}} I will make an agreement

\par }{\QB with
{\ADD{all}} the wild animals and birds,

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{even with}} the little animals that scurry across the ground,

\par }{\QB so that they will never harm my people
{\ADD{again}}.

\par }{\Q And I will remove from their nation all the weapons
{\ADD{for fighting}} battles,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{like}} swords and bows
{\ADD{and arrows}}.

\par }{\Q The result will be that my people will live peacefully and safely,

\par }{\QB and will not be afraid.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}I will cause them to be
{\ADD{as though they are}} [MET] my bride forever.

\par }{\QB I will be righteous and fair/just;

\par }{\QB I will faithfully love them and be kind to them.


\par }{\Q \VS{20}I will not abandon them,

\par }{\QB and they will realize
{\ADD{that I}} Yahweh,
{\ADD{have the power to do what I say that I will do.}}


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{21}At that time,
{\ADD{when they request me to do things for them}},

\par }{\QB {\ADD{I will do those things}}.

\par }{\Q When they request clouds and rain to fall on their land,

\par }{\QB I will speak to the clouds, and rain will fall on the earth,


\par }{\Q \VS{22}and grain will grow, and the vineyards and the olive trees will grow in Jezreel
{\ADD{Valley}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{23}{\ADD{At that time}}, I will take care of the Israeli people

\par }{\QB {\ADD{like a farmer plants and takes care of his crops}} [MET].

\par }{\Q I will love those people that I previously said were ones I did not love,

\par }{\QB and I previously said, ‘You are not my people,’

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{then}} they will say to me, ‘You are our God.’ ”




\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Hosea bought his wife again
\par }
{\PP \VerseOne{1}Then Yahweh said to me, “Go and show to your wife that you still love her, even though she has been committing adultery with another man who loves her.
{\ADD{That will show that}} I still love the people of Israel, even though they worship other gods/idols and eat raisin cakes
{\ADD{in feasts that honor those gods}}.”


\par }{\PP \VS{2}{\ADD{My wife had become a slave,}} but I bought her for ◄6 ounces/179 grams► of silver and ten bushels of barley.

\VS{3}Then I said to her, “You must wait for many days
{\ADD{before we sleep together}} [EUP]. During that time, you must not be a prostitute, and you must not have sex with any other man; but I will live with you.”


\par }{\PP \VS{4}{\ADD{Our doing that will show that}} in the same way, the people of Israel will not have a king and
{\ADD{other}} leaders for many years. They will not offer sacrifices or
{\ADD{have sacred stone}} pillars, no sacred vest
{\ADD{for the Supreme Priest}}, and no idols!

\VS{5}But later, the people of Israel will return to Yahweh their God and
{\ADD{be guided by him and}} by a king who is a descendant of
{\ADD{King}} David. In the last/future days they will come to Yahweh, revering him and trembling
{\ADD{in his presence}}, and he will bless them.




\par }\Chap{4}{\SH Yahweh’s accusation against Israel
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}You Israeli people, listen to this message from Yahweh!

\par }{\QB He is accusing you people who live in this country,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{saying}} “The people are not faithfully
{\ADD{doing what pleases me}},

\par }{\Q they are not kind
{\ADD{to others}},

\par }{\QB and they do not
{\ADD{even}} know me!


\par }{\Q \VS{2}Everywhere in this land they curse
{\ADD{others}}, they murder
{\ADD{others}}, they steal, and they commit adultery.

\par }{\Q They act violently toward others

\par }{\QB and commit one murder after another.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}It is because of their doing those things that there is no rain [MTY], the land has become dry,

\par }{\QB the people are mourning,

\par }{\Q and the people are dying
{\ADD{from hunger}}.

\par }{\QB Even the wild animals and the birds and the fish in the sea are dying.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{4}But no one should accuse someone else

\par }{\QB and say it is his fault.

\par }{\Q It is you priests whom I am accusing.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}So I will punish [MTY] you priests, night and day,

\par }{\QB and I will punish the prophets with you.

\par }{\Q I am going to destroy
{\ADD{Israel, the nation that is like}} [MET] a mother to you.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}It is because my people do not know
{\ADD{about me}} that they will be destroyed.

\par }{\QB And their not knowing about me is because you priests have refused
{\ADD{to teach them about me}};

\par }{\QB so I will no longer allow you to be my priests.

\par }{\Q You have forgotten the things that I taught you,

\par }{\QB so I will forget
{\ADD{to bless}} your children.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}As there are more and more priests,

\par }{\QB they have sinned against me more and more.

\par }{\Q So I will no longer allow them to be honored;

\par }{\QB instead, I will cause them to be disgraced.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}The priests get food from
{\ADD{the offerings that the}} people
{\ADD{bring in order to be forgiven for having sinned}},

\par }{\Q {\ADD{so}} the priests want the people to sin more and more

\par }{\QB {\ADD{in order that the people will bring them more and more offerings}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}The priests
{\ADD{are as sinful}} as the
{\ADD{other}} people,

\par }{\QB and I will punish
{\ADD{all of}} them for what they have done;

\par }{\QB I will pay them back for the
{\ADD{evil}} things that they have done.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{The priests}} will eat, but they will still be hungry;

\par }{\QB they will have sex with prostitutes, but they will not have any children,

\par }{\Q because they have abandoned
{\ADD{me}}, Yahweh,


\par }{\Q \VS{11}and they are devoting themselves to sleeping with prostitutes,

\par }{\QB and to
{\ADD{drinking}} old wine and new wine,

\par }{\QB which results in their not being able to think clearly.”


\par }{\SH The people are condemned for idolatry
\par }
{\Q \VS{12}“{\ADD{You}} my people request wooden idols

\par }{\QB {\ADD{to tell you what you should do}}!

\par }{\Q Like prostitutes who have left/abandoned their husbands,


\par }{\QB \VS{13}you have abandoned
{\ADD{me}} your God, and you are chasing after
{\ADD{other gods}} on the tops of hills and mountains;

\par }{\Q you burn incense under oak
{\ADD{trees}}, poplar
{\ADD{trees}}, and other trees

\par }{\QB where there is nice/pleasing shade.

\par }{\Q So your daughters have become prostitutes,

\par }{\QB and your daughters-in-law have committed adultery.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{14}But it is not
{\ADD{only}} your daughters

\par }{\QB {\ADD{whom I will punish}} for having become prostitutes,

\par }{\Q and it is not
{\ADD{only}} your daughters-in-law

\par }{\QB whom I will punish for committing adultery,

\par }{\Q because the men also are having sex with prostitutes,

\par }{\QB and they offer sacrifices

\par }{\QB with the prostitutes
{\ADD{who search for men at the}} shrines
{\ADD{of the idols}}.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{They are all}} foolish people, and they will
{\ADD{all}} be ruined.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}You Israeli
{\ADD{people}} have abandoned me

\par }{\QB like [MET] those who commit adultery have abandoned their spouses.

\par }{\Q But do not cause
{\ADD{the people of}} Judah to sin
{\ADD{also}}.

\par }{\QB Do not go to Gilgal or go up to Beth-Aven
{\ADD{towns}}

\par }{\QB {\ADD{to worship idols there}}.

\par }{\Q Do not make solemn promises
{\ADD{there, saying ‘Just as surely}} as Yahweh lives,
{\ADD{I will do what I am promising}}.’


\par }{\Q \VS{16}You
{\ADD{people of Israel}} are as stubborn as [SIM] a young cow.

\par }{\QB So there is no way [RHQ] that
{\ADD{I}}, Yahweh, will
{\ADD{provide food for them}}

\par }{\Q {\ADD{like a shepherd provides food for his}} lambs

\par }{\QB {\ADD{by leading them}} to a nice meadow.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}The people of Israel have chosen to worship idols [MET],

\par }{\QB {\ADD{so}} allow them
{\ADD{to do what they want to do}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}When their rulers finish drinking
{\ADD{their wine}},

\par }{\QB they go to find prostitutes;

\par }{\QB they love their disgraceful behavior.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}But they will disappear

\par }{\QB {\ADD{as though}} [MET] they were blown away by a whirlwind.

\par }{\Q They will become
{\ADD{very}} ashamed because of their offering sacrifices
{\ADD{to idols}}.”




\par }\Chap{5}{\SH Yahweh’s accusation against the Israeli people
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}“Listen, you priests!

\par }{\QB And you
{\ADD{other}} Israeli people, you also pay attention!

\par }{\Q And you who are members of the king’s family,
{\ADD{you also need to}} listen,

\par }{\QB because
{\ADD{I am going to}} judge you!

\par }{\Q Your
{\ADD{worshiping idols}} has been
{\ADD{like}} [MET] a trap for
{\ADD{the people at}} Mizpah
{\ADD{town}};

\par }{\QB it has been
{\ADD{like
}}[MET] a net spread out
{\ADD{to catch people}} at Tabor
{\ADD{Mountain}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}You have done many evil things,

\par }{\QB so I will punish all of you.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}I know
{\ADD{everything about the people of}} Israel;

\par }{\QB nothing that they have done is hidden from me.

\par }{\Q Because
{\ADD{the people of}} Israel have given themselves
{\ADD{to worshiping idols}}

\par }{\QB like [MET] prostitutes
{\ADD{give themselves to the men they sleep with}},

\par }{\Q they have become unacceptable to me.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}Because they
{\ADD{like to do evil}} things,

\par }{\QB they will not return to
{\ADD{me}}, their God.

\par }{\Q Like prostitutes
{\ADD{who have abandoned their husbands}} [MET], they have [IDM] abandoned [MET] me;

\par }{\QB they do not
{\ADD{even}} know me, Yahweh.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{It is as though}} their being proud testifies [PRS] against them.

\par }{\QB The sins that
{\ADD{the people of}} Israel have committed
{\ADD{are like a heavy load that}} causes them to stumble,

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{the people of}} Judah stumble with them.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}They will come to worship
{\ADD{me}}, Yahweh,

\par }{\QB bringing their herds of sheep and cattle,

\par }{\Q but they will not
{\ADD{be able to}} find me,

\par }{\QB because I have abandoned them.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}They have abandoned me;

\par }{\QB and their children do not belong to me [MET].

\par }{\Q So
{\ADD{they will not be able to celebrate their festivals at}} the new moons

\par }{\QB {\ADD{because I}} will destroy them and
{\ADD{the crops in}} their fields.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{8}Blow the
{\ADD{rams’}} horns in Gibeah
{\ADD{town}}

\par }{\QB {\ADD{and blow}} the trumpets in Ramah
{\ADD{town}}!

\par }{\Q Warn
{\ADD{the people at}} Beth-Aven
{\ADD{town}};

\par }{\QB you warriors of the tribe of Benjamin, lead the troops
{\ADD{into the battle}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Israel will be ruined on the day that
{\ADD{I}} destroy them.

\par }{\QB What I am telling to the tribes of Israel will certainly
{\ADD{happen}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{Because}} the leaders of Judah
{\ADD{seized some land that belonged to Israel}},

\par }{\QB they are like [SIM] those who move boundary markers
{\ADD{to get more land for themselves}};

\par }{\Q {\ADD{so}} I will punish them severely [MET].


\par }{\Q \VS{11}And
{\ADD{the people of}} Israel will suffer greatly when I punish them,

\par }{\QB because they are
{\ADD{very}} determined to worship idols.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}I will destroy
{\ADD{the people of}} Israel like [SIM] ◄{\ADD{larvae of}} moths/cockroaches► destroy wool,

\par }{\QB and I will cause
{\ADD{the people of}} Judah to be like [SIM] rotten wood.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}When
{\ADD{the leaders of}} Israel and Judah saw that the people were suffering

\par }{\QB because of what
{\ADD{their enemies were doing to them}} [MET],

\par }{\Q they sent
{\ADD{messages}} to the great King of Assyria

\par }{\QB requesting
{\ADD{his help}}.

\par }{\Q But he cannot help you;

\par }{\QB he cannot cause you to stop suffering,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{because I am the one who is punishing Israel and Judah}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}I will become like [SIM] a lion [DOU] to both nations;

\par }{\QB I will
{\ADD{attack them and}} tear them to pieces.

\par }{\Q I will drag them away,

\par }{\QB and no one will
{\ADD{be able to}} rescue them.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{After that}}, I will return to my place
{\ADD{in heaven}}

\par }{\QB until they admit that they have sinned [MTY] and return to me;

\par }{\Q when they will experience
{\ADD{many}} troubles,

\par }{\QB they will request me
{\ADD{to help them}}.”




\par }\Chap{6}{\SH The Israeli people were insincere about repenting
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{The Israeli people say,}} “Come, let’s return to Yahweh!

\par }{\Q He has caused
{\ADD{us}} to be injured,

\par }{\QB but he will heal us.

\par }{\Q He has caused
{\ADD{us}} to be wounded,

\par }{\QB but
{\ADD{it is as though}} he will put bandages on our wounds [MET].


\par }{\Q \VS{2}After a very short time he will revive us;

\par }{\QB in less than three days he will restore us

\par }{\QB in order that we may live in his presence.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}We must try to know Yahweh;

\par }{\QB {\ADD{if we do that,}} he will come
{\ADD{and help}} us,

\par }{\Q as surely as the sun rises
{\ADD{every morning}},

\par }{\QB as surely as rain falls every winter/cold season,

\par }{\Q and as surely as the rain falls again ◄in the springtime/at the end of the cold season►.”


\par }{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{But Yahweh knows they are insincere;}}

\par }{\Q {\ADD{so he says to them,}} “You
{\ADD{people of}} Israel, and you
{\ADD{people of}} Judah,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{I do not know}} [RHQ] what I should do to you.

\par }{\Q Your being faithful
{\ADD{to me will disappear as quickly}} as [SIM] the morning mist
{\ADD{disappears}},

\par }{\QB like [SIM] the dew
{\ADD{on the ground}} that disappears quickly
{\ADD{when the sun shines}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}I warned [HYP] you by
{\ADD{the messages that I gave to}} the prophets,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{but you did not pay attention to my messages}}.

\par }{\Q Therefore I will completely destroy you;

\par }{\QB the punishment that I give you will strike you like lightning.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}I want
{\ADD{my people}} to faithfully love
{\ADD{me}}

\par }{\QB more than
{\ADD{I want them to offer}} sacrifices
{\ADD{to me}};

\par }{\Q {\ADD{I want them}} to know me

\par }{\QB more than
{\ADD{I want them to}} completely burn sacrifices
{\ADD{on the altar}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}But they have refused to obey my agreement,
{\ADD{just}} like Adam did;

\par }{\QB they have not been faithful to me.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Gilead is a city
{\ADD{full}} of people who do wicked things;

\par }{\QB {\ADD{in the streets}} are the bloody footprints
{\ADD{of those who have murdered others}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}The priests are like [SIM] bandits who wait ◄in ambushes/along the road► to attack people;

\par }{\QB they murder
{\ADD{people who are walking}} on the road to Shechem,

\par }{\Q and they commit other disgraceful crimes.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}I have seen horrible things
{\ADD{being done}} in Israel [MTY].

\par }{\QB The people have abandoned me
{\ADD{like prostitutes who have abandoned their husbands}} [MET];

\par }{\Q {\ADD{so the people of}} Israel have become unacceptable to me.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}And you
{\ADD{people of}} Judah,

\par }{\QB I have appointed a time when I will punish [MET] you, too.

\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q Whenever I wanted to enable my people to prosper again,”




\par }\PoetryChap{7}{\Q \VerseOne{1}“and when I wanted to heal them
{\ADD{again}},

\par }{\QB {\ADD{I did not do it,}}

\par }{\Q {\ADD{because}} I saw the wicked things that
{\ADD{the people of}} Samaria
{\ADD{city}} and
{\ADD{other places in}} Israel [DOU] have done.

\par }{\Q They constantly deceive others;

\par }{\QB bandits rob people in the streets.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}But they do not realize that I do not forget all the evil things that they do.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{It is as though}} they are surrounded by
{\ADD{all}} the sins that they commit;

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{it is though}} those sins are
{\ADD{always right}} in front of me [MTY].


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}Their king is delighted with the wicked things that the people do;

\par }{\QB his officials are happy about the people’s lies.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{The king and his officials}} are all treacherous.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{They are always eager to do wicked things;}}

\par }{\Q they are like [SIM] an oven that is
{\ADD{very}} hot:

\par }{\QB a baker mixes the dough and waits for it to expand,

\par }{\QB and he does not
{\ADD{need to}} cause the oven to become hotter.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}The king and his officials get very drunk during their festivals,

\par }{\QB carousing with others who also do foolish things.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}The officials angrily plan to murder the king;

\par }{\QB it is like [SIM] they have an oven in their inner beings.

\par }{\Q All during the night their
{\ADD{eagerness/wanting to murder the king}} is like a fire that is smouldering,

\par }{\QB but in the morning it becomes like [MET] a roaring fire.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}All those officials are like [MET] hot flames

\par }{\QB that completely burn up their rulers,

\par }{\Q so all their kings are murdered,

\par }{\QB and no one pleads with me
{\ADD{to help them}}.”


\par }{\SH Other nations will not help them
\par }
{\Q \VS{8}“{\ADD{The leaders of}} Israel join with leaders of
{\ADD{godless}} nations;

\par }{\QB so
{\ADD{the leaders of}} Israel are
{\ADD{as worthless as}} a pancake that is cooked on only one side.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Joining with the rulers of foreign nations has caused Israel to be a weak
{\ADD{nation}},

\par }{\QB but the Israelis do not realize that.

\par }{\Q Israel has become
{\ADD{like
}} [MET] a gray-haired old man,

\par }{\QB but the people of Israel do not realize it.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{10}Their being proud [PRS] testifies against them,

\par }{\QB but in spite of that, they do not return to
{\ADD{me}}, Yahweh, their God,

\par }{\Q or
{\ADD{even}} try to know me.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{The people of}} Israel have become foolish and stupid like [SIM] doves.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{First}} they called out to Egypt
{\ADD{to help them}},

\par }{\Q {\ADD{and then}} they sought help from Assyria.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}But wherever they go
{\ADD{to get help}},

\par }{\QB {\ADD{I will not allow them to succeed}};

\par }{\Q {\ADD{it will be as though}} [MET] I will throw a net over them

\par }{\QB like [SIM]
{\ADD{a hunter uses a net to capture}} birds;

\par }{\Q I will punish them for the evil things that they do.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}Terrible things will happen to them

\par }{\QB because they abandoned/deserted me!

\par }{\Q They will be destroyed

\par }{\QB because they rebelled against me.

\par }{\Q I wanted to rescue them,

\par }{\QB but they tell lies about me.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}They do not cry out to me sincerely [IDM];

\par }{\QB they
{\ADD{only}} lie on their beds and wail.

\par }{\Q They gather together and ask
{\ADD{me to give them}} grain and wine,

\par }{\QB but they turn away from me.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}I trained/taught them and enabled them to become strong,

\par }{\QB but now they plan
{\ADD{to do}} evil things to me.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}They have rejected me, their Great God, and turned to their god Baal;

\par }{\QB they are
{\ADD{as useless}} as [SIM] a crooked bow.

\par }{\Q Their leaders boast
{\ADD{that they are very strong}},

\par }{\QB but they will be killed by
{\ADD{their enemies’}} swords.

\par }{\Q As a result,
{\ADD{the people of}} Egypt will laugh at them.”




\par }\Chap{8}{\SH The Israelis will be punished because of their wrong decisions
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{Yahweh said to me}}, “Blow [MTY] your trumpet

\par }{\QB {\ADD{to warn the people}}!

\par }{\Q My people have rejected the agreement that I made with them,

\par }{\QB and they have rebelled against
{\ADD{obeying}} my laws.

\par }{\Q Therefore,
{\ADD{their enemies}} are swooping down on my people’s country like [SIM] an eagle.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}My Israeli people cry out to me,

\par }{\QB ‘Our God, we know that you are our God!’


\par }{\Q \VS{3}But because the Israeli people have rejected what is good,

\par }{\QB their enemies will pursue them.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}The Israel people appointed
{\ADD{their last three}} kings,

\par }{\QB but they did not ask me if I agreed to
{\ADD{what they were doing}}.

\par }{\Q They chose their own leaders

\par }{\QB without asking if I would approve of them.

\par }{\Q They used their own silver and gold to make for themselves idols,

\par }{\QB and doing that led them to be destroyed.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}You people of Samaria, throw away your
{\ADD{idol that resembles a}} calf!

\par }{\QB I am extremely angry with you people!

\par }{\Q How long [RHQ] will you
{\ADD{do things that cause}} you to be unacceptable to me?


\par }{\QB \VS{6}{\ADD{Someone in}} Israel made that idol for you;

\par }{\Q {\ADD{but I am}} God and it is not.

\par }{\QB So that idol of a calf in Samaria must be smashed to pieces.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}{\ADD{The foolish thing that the people of Israel have done is like}} [MET] trying to plant wind;

\par }{\QB but what they harvest will be like [MET] a whirlwind.

\par }{\Q So the grain that they planted will have no heads
{\ADD{on the stalks}},

\par }{\QB and as a result
{\ADD{there will be no grain}} from which to make flour.

\par }{\Q And if it did produce good grain,

\par }{\QB foreigners would
{\ADD{come and}} steal it.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{The people of}} Israel will be defeated [MET]
{\ADD{by their enemies}};

\par }{\QB they will be
{\ADD{scattered}} among other nations and become worthless.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Like [MET] donkeys that are looking for mates,

\par }{\QB they have requested
{\ADD{help}} from Assyria;

\par }{\Q they paid money to
{\ADD{the leaders of Assyria}}

\par }{\QB in order to
{\ADD{persuade those leaders to}} protect them.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}But although they have agreed to pay money each year to
{\ADD{the leaders of}} those countries,

\par }{\QB I will soon gather them together
{\ADD{to punish them}}.

\par }{\QB The great King
{\ADD{of Assyria}} will cause them to suffer greatly.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}Although
{\ADD{the people of}} Israel built many altars to present offerings
{\ADD{to their idols}} to take away
{\ADD{their guilt for}} sinning,

\par }{\QB those altars have become places where they commit
{\ADD{more}} sins.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}I wrote many laws for them,

\par }{\QB but they disregarded them, saying that
{\ADD{they did not have to obey them because}} they were different from laws that they had known previously.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}They offer sacrifices to me,

\par }{\QB and they eat
{\ADD{some of}} the meat of those sacrifices,
{\ADD{which is what I permitted them to do}}.

\par }{\QB But I, Yahweh, am not pleased with those sacrifices.

\par }{\Q I remember the evil things that they have done,

\par }{\QB and I will punish them for the sins that they have committed:

\par }{\Q I will force them to
{\ADD{go to other countries}}

\par }{\QB {\ADD{and become slaves like they were}} [MET] in Egypt.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{The people of}} Israel have abandoned/forgotten me, the one who created their
{\ADD{nation}};

\par }{\QB they have built palaces,

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{the people of}} Judah have built walls around many towns.

\par }{\Q But I will send a fire

\par }{\QB that will destroy all their cities and their fortresses.”




\par }\Chap{9}{\SH Israel will be punished
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{You people of}} Israel, do not shout joyfully
{\ADD{during your festivals}} like
{\ADD{people of other}} nations do!

\par }{\QB {\ADD{I say that}} because you have ◄not been faithful to/abandoned► me, your God.

\par }{\Q At every place where the people thresh grain

\par }{\QB you have
{\ADD{presented gifts to your idols like men}} pay money to prostitutes.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}{\ADD{But soon}} there will not be enough grain [MTY, PRS] and wine [MTY, PRS] for you.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}And you people will not remain in the land that I, Yahweh,
{\ADD{gave to your ancestors}}.

\par }{\QB You will be
{\ADD{captured and}} taken to
{\ADD{Assyria}},

\par }{\QB {\ADD{where you will become slaves like your ancestors were}} in Egypt;

\par }{\Q and in Assyria you will be forced to eat food that Yahweh has forbidden you to eat.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}You Israelis will not
{\ADD{be able to}} give wine offerings to him,

\par }{\QB or bring sacrifices to him.

\par }{\Q None of your other sacrifices will please him;

\par }{\QB they will be unacceptable to him, like [SIM] food that is touched by people at funerals,

\par }{\Q and everyone who eats that food will become unacceptable to him.

\par }{\Q They will be permitted to eat that food themselves,

\par }{\QB but they will not
{\ADD{be permitted to}} bring it into the temple.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}At that time you will not [RHQ] be able to celebrate the feasts and sacred festivals.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}And even if you escape and are not killed
{\ADD{by the Assyrians}},

\par }{\QB you will be captured by
{\ADD{the army of}} Egypt,

\par }{\QB and you will
{\ADD{die and}} be buried in Memphis,
{\ADD{the capital of Egypt}}.

\par }{\Q Briers will
{\ADD{grow up and}} cover your treasures of silver,

\par }{\QB and thorns will grow in your
{\ADD{ruined}} tents/houses.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}It is now the time for Yahweh to punish you,

\par }{\QB to pay you back for all the sins that you have committed.

\par }{\QB You people will
{\ADD{soon}} know that.

\par }{\Q You have
{\ADD{committed}} very many sins,

\par }{\QB and you very much hate Yahweh.

\par }{\Q You consider that the prophets are foolish,

\par }{\QB and you think that those who proclaim messages from him are crazy.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}My God appointed
{\ADD{me and the other}} prophets

\par }{\QB to be
{\ADD{like}} [MET] watchmen
{\ADD{to warn}} you people of Israel,

\par }{\Q but everywhere that we go,
{\ADD{it is as though}} people set traps for us

\par }{\QB and people are hostile
{\ADD{to us, even}} in the temple of our God.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}The sins that the Israeli people have committed are as awful as
{\ADD{what the men of}} Gibeah did long ago;

\par }{\Q {\ADD{so}} God will not forget the wicked things that they have done;

\par }{\QB he will punish the Israelis for
{\ADD{all}} those sins.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{Yahweh says}}, “When I first started
{\ADD{to do things to help}} Israel,

\par }{\QB it seemed to me as though [SIM] I had found grapes in the desert.

\par }{\Q Your ancestors were
{\ADD{delightful}},

\par }{\QB like [SIM] the first figs that grow on fig trees
{\ADD{each year}}.

\par }{\Q But when they came to Peor
{\ADD{Mountain}},

\par }{\QB they worshiped that disgusting idol Baal,

\par }{\QB and they became as disgusting as the idol that they loved.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}The things that cause Israel to be great will disappear

\par }{\QB like [SIM] a bird that flies away;

\par }{\Q {\ADD{most of their women will}} not become pregnant [DOU] or give birth to children.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}Even if their children are born and start to grow up,

\par }{\QB I will cause all of them to die
{\ADD{while they are still young}}.

\par }{\Q Terrible things will happen to them

\par }{\QB when I abandon them!


\par }{\Q \VS{13}I have seen Israel become beautiful and prosperous like Tyre
{\ADD{city}} was
{\ADD{before it was destroyed}},

\par }{\QB but now the people of Israel will
{\ADD{be forced to}} take their children to be slaughtered
{\ADD{by their enemies}}.”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{14}Yahweh,
{\ADD{I do not know}} [RHQ] what I should ask for my people.

\par }{\QB So I ask that you do this one thing:

\par }{\Q Cause the women who are pregnant to have miscarriages

\par }{\QB and unable
{\ADD{to nurse their babies}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{Yahweh says}}, “Because of all the wicked things that my people did at Gilgal,

\par }{\QB that is where I started to hate them.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{And now}}, because of
{\ADD{all}} the sinful things that they have done,

\par }{\QB I will expel them from my country.

\par }{\Q I will not love them any longer;

\par }{\QB all their leaders rebel
{\ADD{against me}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}Israel is like [MET] a grapevine that is dried up;

\par }{\QB {\ADD{like a vine}} [MET] whose roots are withered

\par }{\QB and that produces no fruit.

\par }{\Q Even if the
{\ADD{women of Israel}} give birth to
{\ADD{more}} children,

\par }{\QB I will cause those children, whom they love, to die.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{17}The people of Israel have not obeyed me, their God,

\par }{\QB so I will reject them.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{As a result}}, they will wander among the
{\ADD{other}} nations,
{\ADD{searching for a place to live}}.”




\par }\PoetryChap{10}{\Q \VerseOne{1}“Israel was
{\ADD{like a large}} healthy/luxuriant vine [MET]

\par }{\QB that produced
{\ADD{a lot of}} grapes.

\par }{\Q But as the people became richer,

\par }{\QB they made more altars
{\ADD{at which to worship idols}}.

\par }{\Q As the people prospered,

\par }{\QB they
{\ADD{built and}} decorated sacred pillars
{\ADD{that they worshiped}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}They are deceitful;

\par }{\QB {\ADD{so}} now they are guilty and must be punished.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{I}}, Yahweh, will tear down their altars

\par }{\QB and smash those pillars.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}Then they will say, ‘It is because we did not revere Yahweh

\par }{\QB that we no
{\ADD{longer}} have a king.

\par }{\Q But
{\ADD{even if we had}} a king,

\par }{\QB he certainly could not [RHQ] do anything to help us.’


\par }{\Q \VS{4}They falsely promise
{\ADD{that they will do many things}};

\par }{\QB they solemnly promise and make agreements,

\par }{\QB but they do not do what they promise.

\par }{\Q So people accuse and sue
{\ADD{each other in the courts}};

\par }{\QB they are like [SIM] poisonous weeds
{\ADD{that grow}} in a plowed field.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}The people who live in Samaria
{\ADD{city}} are worried about
{\ADD{what may happen to the idol that resembles}} a calf
{\ADD{that they set up}} at Beth-Aven
{\ADD{town}}.

\par }{\Q The people in Samaria will mourn,

\par }{\QB and the priests there will cry about it

\par }{\QB {\ADD{if it is damaged or destroyed}}.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Previously}} they shouted joyfully

\par }{\QB about its being very great;

\par }{\Q but now it will not be great any more.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}It will be taken to Assyria

\par }{\QB to be a gift for the great King
{\ADD{of Assyria}}.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{So the people of}} Israel will be disgraced,

\par }{\Q and they will be ashamed

\par }{\QB because
{\ADD{they trusted in}} that idol.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}The King of Samaria
{\ADD{and the other people in Samaria}} will be gone;

\par }{\QB they will be like [SIM] a twig
{\ADD{that floats away}} on the surface of the water
{\ADD{and disappears}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}The altars on the tops of hills
{\ADD{where the people worshiped idols}} will be destroyed;

\par }{\QB those have been the places where the people of Israel sinned greatly.

\par }{\Q Thorns and weeds will grow and cover those altars.

\par }{\QB Then the people will plead to the mountains and hills,

\par }{\Q ‘Fall
{\ADD{down and}} cover us

\par }{\QB {\ADD{to protect us from God punishing us}}!’


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}{\ADD{You people of}} Israel,
{\ADD{ever since your ancestors did evil things}} at Gibeah,

\par }{\QB you have continued to sin.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{When the people at}} [PRS] Gibeah
{\ADD{did evil things}},

\par }{\QB the result was a war
{\ADD{in which thousands of people died}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{So now}}, when I want to, I will punish the Israeli people.

\par }{\QB Because of the many sins that they have committed,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{the armies of other
}} nations will gather to attack them,

\par }{\QB and they will cause the Israeli people to become their slaves.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}Israel is
{\ADD{like}} [MET] a well-trained ◄heifer/young cow►

\par }{\QB that likes to thresh
{\ADD{grain}}.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{So now you will become slaves}}.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{It will be as though}} I will put a yoke on your neck,

\par }{\Q and you will be forced to work hard for your enemies in their fields.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{You people of}} Israel and Judah
{\ADD{will be forced to go to Assyria}};

\par }{\QB there you [DOU] will pull plows to break up the ground
{\ADD{for planting seeds}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{You plow your fields and plant your seeds}} and harvest
{\ADD{your crops}} [MET],

\par }{\QB {\ADD{but what you need to do is}} to act righteously and to faithfully love
{\ADD{me}};

\par }{\Q you need to repent [MET],

\par }{\QB because it is time to try to know
{\ADD{me}}, Yahweh;

\par }{\Q and if you do that, I will pour out [MET] many blessings on you.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}You
{\ADD{plant seeds and harvest the crops and eat them}};

\par }{\QB {\ADD{but what I consider that you have really done is}} that you have planted wicked things and harvested evil things

\par }{\QB and eaten [MET] the results [IDM] of the lies
{\ADD{that you have told}}.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Instead of trusting in me,}} you have ◄depended on/trusted in► your own power

\par }{\QB and in your many soldiers.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}As a result, you will
{\ADD{soon}} hear the roar of battle,

\par }{\QB and all your cities that have walls around them will be destroyed,

\par }{\Q like [SIM] Shalman’s
{\ADD{army}} destroyed Beth-Arbel
{\ADD{city}} in a battle,

\par }{\QB and the women
{\ADD{in that city}} and their children were bashed to death.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{You people of}} [APO] Bethel
{\ADD{city}}, that is what will happen to you,

\par }{\QB because you are very wicked.

\par }{\Q And when the sun rises
{\ADD{on that day}},

\par }{\QB the King of Israel will be killed
{\ADD{in the battle}}.”




\par }\Chap{11}{\SH God’s love for Israel
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}“Before the Israeli
{\ADD{people}} became a nation [MET],

\par }{\QB I loved them
{\ADD{like a man loves}} his son,

\par }{\QB and I called them out of Egypt.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}But while I continued to call them,

\par }{\QB they
{\ADD{continued to}} turn away from me more and more.

\par }{\Q They offered sacrifices to their statues of Baal,

\par }{\QB and they burned incense to
{\ADD{honor}} them.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}{\ADD{The people of}} Israel were
{\ADD{like a little boy}} [MET],

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{it was as though}} it was I who taught them to walk,

\par }{\QB holding them by their hands.

\par }{\Q But they did not realize that it was I who was taking care of them.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{It was as though I fastened}} ropes
{\ADD{around them}} to lead them,

\par }{\QB while I loved them and was kind to them.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{It was as though they were young oxen}} [MET],

\par }{\QB and I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{5}But the people of Israel will become
{\ADD{slaves}} again,

\par }{\QB like they were in Egypt,

\par }{\Q and
{\ADD{the people of}} Assyria will [RHQ] rule over them,

\par }{\QB because the people of Israel refused to repent.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}{\ADD{Their enemies}} will use their swords
{\ADD{to attack}} the cities in Israel

\par }{\QB and will destroy the bars in the gates
{\ADD{of the city walls}}.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{As a result}}, the people of Israeli will not be able to accomplish the things that they planned to do.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}My people are determined to ◄turn away from/abandon► me.

\par }{\QB They say that I am the great all-powerful God,

\par }{\QB but they do not honor me at all.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{You people of}} Israel, I certainly do not want to [RHQ] abandon you

\par }{\QB and allow
{\ADD{your enemies}} to capture you.

\par }{\Q I do not [RHQ] want to act toward you like I acted toward Admah and Zeboiim,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{cities that I completely destroyed when I destroyed Sodom}}.

\par }{\Q I [SYN] have changed my mind
{\ADD{about punishing you}};

\par }{\QB my desire to pity you has increased.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Although I am extremely angry,

\par }{\QB I do not want to punish you severely;

\par }{\Q I do not want to ◄devastate/completely ruin► Israel.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{Humans would easily decide to do that}},

\par }{\QB but I am God, not a human.

\par }{\Q I, the Holy One, am with you;

\par }{\QB although I am very angry
{\ADD{with you}}, I will not
{\ADD{destroy you}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}You will follow me when I roar like [SIM] a lion;

\par }{\QB when I roar,
{\ADD{some of you}} my children will tremble as you return
{\ADD{to Israel}} from
{\ADD{the islands and seacoasts toward}} the west.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{Some of}} you will come swiftly from Egypt

\par }{\QB like
{\ADD{a flock of}} birds;

\par }{\QB {\ADD{others}} will return from Assyria, like doves.

\par }{\Q I will enable you to live in your homes
{\ADD{in Israel}} again.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{That will surely happen, because I}}, Yahweh, have said it.”


\par }{\SH Israel and Judah are condemned now
\par }
{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{Yahweh says, “The people of}} Israel have ◄surrounded me with lies/constantly told lies to me►.

\par }{\QB And the people of Judah have
{\ADD{also
}} turned/rebelled against me, their God,

\par }{\QB the Holy One who always does what I promise to do,

\par }{\Q and the people of Judah worship other gods.”




\par }\PoetryChap{12}{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{The leaders of}} Israel are constantly wavering
{\ADD{about seeking help from other countries}}.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{Seeking their help is as useless as}} [MET] chasing the wind.

\par }{\QB They pile up their lies and violent acts.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{First,}} they make a treaty with Assyria,

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{then they}} send olive oil to
{\ADD{the rulers of
}} Egypt
{\ADD{to seek their help}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}Yahweh
{\ADD{says that he}} will bring accusations against
{\ADD{the leaders of}} Judah,

\par }{\QB and that he will punish
{\ADD{the descendants of}} Jacob for what they have done.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}{\ADD{When Jacob was}} in his mother’s womb, he grabbed his brother
{\ADD{Esau’s}} heel
{\ADD{because he wanted to be born first}}.

\par }{\QB When Jacob grew up, he wrestled with God.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}He struggled with
{\ADD{the one who had appeared to him in the form of}} an angel, and Jacob defeated him,

\par }{\QB but
{\ADD{then}} he cried and asked the angel to bless him.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Later}}, God came to Jacob at Bethel

\par }{\QB and talked with him there.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{That was}} the Commander of the armies of angels

\par }{\QB whose name is Yahweh
{\ADD{who talked with him}}!


\par }{\Q \VS{6}But you
{\ADD{people of Israel}} must return to your God!

\par }{\QB You must faithfully love
{\ADD{him}}, and you must do what is fair/just

\par }{\QB and always depend on him.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}The merchants
{\ADD{among you}} use scales that do not weigh correctly;

\par }{\QB they love/like to cheat people.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{The people of}} Israel boast, saying

\par }{\QB “We are
{\ADD{very}} rich [DOU];

\par }{\Q and we got all that money by our own efforts,

\par }{\QB and without committing any sin.”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}“I am Yahweh your God,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{the one who brought your ancestors}} out of Egypt.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{And some day}} I will force you to live in tents again
{\ADD{like your ancestors did}}

\par }{\QB when
{\ADD{they celebrated}} the Festival
{\ADD{of Living in Temporary Shelters}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{Many times}} I spoke to the prophets,

\par }{\QB and I gave them many visions,

\par }{\QB and I gave them parables to tell
{\ADD{to the people}}.”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{The people of}} Gilead
{\ADD{city}} are [RHQ] extremely wicked;

\par }{\QB they are worthless.

\par }{\Q The people sacrifice bulls in Gilgal
{\ADD{city}},

\par }{\QB but their altars will
{\ADD{soon}} become like [SIM] piles of stone
{\ADD{at the edge of}} a plowed field.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{Your ancestor}} Jacob fled
{\ADD{from his brother Esau}}

\par }{\QB and went to northwest Mesopotamia.

\par }{\QB He worked
{\ADD{for his uncle Laban for many years}} to get a wife;

\par }{\QB he took care of
{\ADD{his uncle’s}} sheep
{\ADD{to pay}} for her.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}{\ADD{Many years later,}} Yahweh enabled a prophet to bring the
{\ADD{ancestors of you}} people of Israel here from Egypt;

\par }{\QB that prophet,
{\ADD{Moses}}, took care of them.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{But now the people of}} Israel have caused
{\ADD{Yahweh}} to become very angry;

\par }{\QB Yahweh says that they deserve to die because they caused
{\ADD{many others}} to die [MTY];

\par }{\QB he will pay them back for the sins that they have committed against him and for insulting him.




\par }\Chap{13}{\SH Israel is doomed to be destroyed
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{Previously}}, when
{\ADD{the leaders of}} Israel spoke,

\par }{\QB the people trembled;

\par }{\QB those leaders were highly respected by the Israeli people.

\par }{\Q But the people sinned greatly by
{\ADD{worshiping}} Baal,

\par }{\QB so now they will be killed
{\ADD{by their enemies}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}Now they sin more and more;

\par }{\QB they make idols for themselves

\par }{\QB {\ADD{and coat the idols}} with their silver.

\par }{\Q Those idols are statues that are very cleverly made,

\par }{\QB but those statues are made by
{\ADD{mere}} humans.

\par }{\Q But
{\ADD{the people are told}}, “Kiss those idols
{\ADD{that resemble a}} calf,

\par }{\QB and offer sacrifices to them!”


\par }{\Q \VS{3}Therefore, those people will
{\ADD{disappear quickly}} like [SIM] the morning mist or the dew that lies
{\ADD{on the ground}} early
{\ADD{in the morning}};

\par }{\QB {\ADD{they will disappear}} like [SIM] chaff that is blown away from where
{\ADD{the wheat}} is threshed,

\par }{\QB like [SIM] smoke that goes out of a chimney.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{4}But
{\ADD{Yahweh says to his people}}, “I am Yahweh, your God,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{the one who brought your ancestors}} out of Egypt.

\par }{\Q You must believe that only I am God

\par }{\QB and that there is no other God,

\par }{\QB and that there is no one else who can save you!


\par }{\Q \VS{5}I took care of your
{\ADD{ancestors when they were}} in the desert,

\par }{\QB where it was extremely
{\ADD{hot and}} dry.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}When I provided food for them,

\par }{\QB their
{\ADD{stomachs}} were full, and they were satisfied.

\par }{\Q But then they became proud

\par }{\QB and they forgot
{\ADD{about}} me,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{and you are like your ancestors}}!


\par }{\Q \VS{7}So I will attack you like [SIM] a lion
{\ADD{attacks other animals}};

\par }{\QB I will be like [SIM] a leopard that waits beside the road
{\ADD{to attack another animal}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Like [SIM] a female bear attacks anyone that steals her cubs,

\par }{\QB I will attack you Israelis and rip you open.

\par }{\Q I will completely destroy you

\par }{\QB like [SIM] lions or
{\ADD{other}} wild animals tear apart the animals that they catch and devour them.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}{\ADD{You people of}} Israel, you will be destroyed

\par }{\QB because you oppose me, the only one who ◄can help/helps► you.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}You have a king;

\par }{\QB ◄why is he
{\ADD{unable to save you}}?/but he is
{\ADD{unable to save you}}.► [RHQ]

\par }{\Q You have [RHQ] rulers in all your towns,

\par }{\QB but they are not helping you,
{\ADD{either}}.

\par }{\Q Your
{\ADD{ancestors}} said, ‘Appoint for us a king and
{\ADD{other}} leaders
{\ADD{to rule over us}}

\par }{\QB {\ADD{like the other nations have}}!’


\par }{\Q \VS{11}I was angry with them
{\ADD{for requesting that}},

\par }{\QB but I appointed a king
{\ADD{to rule over}} them.

\par }{\Q But
{\ADD{later}} I became very angry with them
{\ADD{again}},

\par }{\QB so I took their king away.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{I have written on a scroll}} a record of the sins that have been committed by you people of Israel,

\par }{\QB and I have stored away that record.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}You people are not wise;

\par }{\QB and now
{\ADD{you are helpless}}.

\par }{\Q You are like [MET] a woman who is having birth pains

\par }{\QB but who is unable to give birth to the baby.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}I certainly will not [RHQ] save you from being killed

\par }{\QB and from going to the place where the dead people are.

\par }{\Q I will [RHQ] cause you to be afflicted by plagues

\par }{\QB and to die and be buried in graves.

\par }{\Q I will not be merciful
{\ADD{to you}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}Even if you people of Israel prosper more than the nearby nations do,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{the army of Assyria}} will come
{\ADD{like}} [MET] an east wind that blows from the desert;

\par }{\Q the springs and wells in Israel will become dry;

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{your enemies}} will take away all your valuable possessions.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}{\ADD{You people of}} Samaria must be punished

\par }{\QB because you have rebelled against
{\ADD{me}}, your God.

\par }{\Q You will be killed by
{\ADD{your enemies’}} swords;

\par }{\QB your little children will be
{\ADD{killed by being}} dashed/thrown to the ground;

\par }{\QB the
{\ADD{bellies of}}pregnant women
{\ADD{among you}} will be ripped open.”




\par }\Chap{14}{\SH Those who repent will be blessed
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{You people of}} Israel, return to Yahweh our God.

\par }{\QB You are being punished because of the sins which you have committed.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}So now return to Yahweh

\par }{\QB and say [MTY] this to him:

\par }{\Q “Forgive us for all the sins that we have committed,

\par }{\QB and kindly accept ◄us/our sacrifices►

\par }{\Q in order that we may thank/praise you [IDM].


\par }{\Q \VS{3}{\ADD{We admit that}} Assyria will not save us,

\par }{\QB and our war horses will not save us, either.

\par }{\Q We will never again say, ‘You are our gods’

\par }{\QB to
{\ADD{the idols that}} we [SYN] have made.

\par }{\QB You are the one who acts mercifully to orphans.”


\par }{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{Yahweh says, “If they say that to me,}} I will forgive them for having ◄turned away from/abandoned► me,

\par }{\QB and I will love them with all my inner being,

\par }{\QB because I [PRS] will have stopped being angry with them.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}I will be to the people of Israel

\par }{\QB like dew
{\ADD{that refreshes the soil}}.

\par }{\Q When I do that, they will
{\ADD{become as delightful as}} [MET] lilies are when they are blooming.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{No one will be able to conquer them;}}

\par }{\QB they will be
{\ADD{as unmovable as}} [SIM] the roots
{\ADD{of cedar trees}}.


\par }{\QB \VS{6}{\ADD{Their good influence will spread}} like [MET] the branches of a tree.

\par }{\Q They will be like [SIM] beautiful olive trees,

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{they will be as delightful as}} [SIM] the aroma of the cedar
{\ADD{trees in}} Lebanon.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}People will
{\ADD{come to them to be protected}}

\par }{\QB {\ADD{like people are protected from the hot sun by being}} [MET] in the shade
{\ADD{of a tree}}.

\par }{\Q They
{\ADD{will ◄flourish/be strong► like}} [SIM] grain that grows well.

\par }{\QB They will
{\ADD{be successful like}} a vineyard
{\ADD{in which grapes grow abundantly}}.

\par }{\Q They will become as famous/well-known as [SIM] the wines from Lebanon.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{You people of}} Israel, do not [RHQ] have anything more to do with idols;

\par }{\QB if you
{\ADD{get rid of your idols}}, I will answer your
{\ADD{prayers}} and take care of you.

\par }{\Q I am like [MET] a strong/green pine tree,

\par }{\QB and your blessings come from me.”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}Those who are wise will understand the things
{\ADD{about which I have written}}.

\par }{\QB Those who think well will pay careful attention to them.

\par }{\Q The things that Yahweh wants us to do [MET] are right;

\par }{\QB righteous people will conduct their lives adhering to them.

\par }{\QB But those who rebel against Yahweh will be ruined.


\par }