Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

Destruction threatened on Israel. -HOSEA. Their distress and captivity.

me: they have made princes, and I knew 7 The days of visitation are come, the it not of their silver and their gold, have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

5 T Thy calf, O Samaria hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?

days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.

8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the 6 For from Israel was it also: the work-house of his God. man made it; therefore it is not God: but

9 They have deeply corrupted themthe calf of Samaria shall be broken in selves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore pieces. he will remember their iniquity, he will 7 For they have sown the wind,, and visit their sins. they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no 10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilstalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so derness; I saw your fathers as the first ripe be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. in the fig-tree at her first time but they 8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they went to Baal-peor, and separated thembe among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein selves unto that shame; and their abominais no pleasure. tions were according as they loved.

9 For they are gone up to Assyria, al wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

11 As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. 10 Yea, though they have hired among 12 Though they bring up their children, the nations, now will I gather them, and yet will I bereave them, that there shall not they shall sorrow a little for the burden of be a man left: yea, wo also to them when the king of princes. I depart from them!

11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. 12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

13 Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.

14 Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

15 All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.

14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath 16 Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried multiplied fenced cities: but I will send up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour they bring forth, yet will I slay even the the palaces thereof. beloved fruit of their womb.

CHAP. IX.

17 My Godwill cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations. CHAP. X.

REJOICE not, O Israel, for joy, as other people for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every corn-floor. SRAEL is an empty vine, he bringeth 2 The floor and the wine-press shall not forth fruit unto himself: according to feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her. the multitude of his fruit he hath increased 3 They shall not dwell in the LORD's the altars; according to the goodness of land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, his land they have made goodly images. and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria. 2 Their heart is divided; now shall 4 They shall not offer wine-offerings to they be found faulty: he shall break down the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing their altars, he shall spoil their images. unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them 3 For now they shall say, We have no as the bread of mourners; all that eat king, because we feared not the LORD; thereof shall be polluted: for their bread what then should a king do to us? for their soul shall not come into the house 4 They have spoken words, swearing of the LORD. falsely in making a covenant: thus judg 5 What will ye do in the solemn day, ment springeth up as hemlock in the furand in the day of the feast of the LORD? rows of the field.

6 Forlo, they are gone because of de- 5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear struction: Egypt shall gather them up, because of the calves of Beth-aven: for the Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant people thereof shall mourn over it, and the places for their silver, nettles shall possess priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles. glory thereof, because it is departed from if,

The ingratitude of Israel.

CHAP. XI, XII. Ephraim, &c. are reproved.

6 It shall be also carried unto Assyria, how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned withof his own counsel.

7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.

8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

in me, my repentings are kindled together.

9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

10 They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the

9 O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the west. battle in Gibeah against the children of 11 They shall tremble as a bird out of iniquity did not overtake them. Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of 10 It is in my desire that I should chas- Assyria: and I will place them in their tise them; and the people shall be gather-houses, saith the LORD.

themselves in their two furrows.

ed against them, when they shall bind 12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit :. but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.

11 And Ephraim is as a heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: Í will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plough, and Jacob shall break his clods.

EP

CHAP. XII..

PHRAIM feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily 12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, increaseth lies and desolation; and they reap in mercy; break up your fallow do make a covenant with the Assyrians, ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till and oil is carried into Egypt.

he come and rain righteousness upon you. 2 The LORD hath also a controversy 13 Ye have ploughed wickedness, ye with Judah, and will punish Jacob accordhave reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the ing to his ways; according to his doings fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy will he recompense him.

way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. 3 He took his brother by the heel in 14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among the womb, and by his strength he had thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be power with God: spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.

4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he fourd him in Beth15 So shall Beth-el do unto you because el, and there he spake with us; of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

CHAP. XI.

HEN Israel was a child, then I

5 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.

6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God

W leved bias, and called my son out continually.

of Egypt.

7¶ He is a merchant, the balances of

2 As they called them, so they went deceit are in his hand: he loveth to opfrom them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, press.

and burned incense to graven images.

8 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become

3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking rich, I have found me out substance: in them by their arms; but they knew not all my labours they shall find none iniquity that I healed them. in me that were sin.

4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

5 T He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

9 And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feasts.

10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. 6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, 11 Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely and shall consume his branches, and de- they are vanity they sacrifice bullocks in vour them, because of their own counsels. Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in

7 And my people are bent to back-the furrows of the fields. sliding from me: though they called them to the Most High, none at all would exalt

him.

8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim ?

[blocks in formation]

13 And by a prophet the LORD broug!

[ocr errors]

The glory of Ephraim vanishes.

JOEL.

An exhortation to repentance.

Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was 14 I will ransom them from the power he preserved. of the grave; I will redeem them from 14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most death: O death, I will be thy plagues, O bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood grave, I will be thy destruction: repentupon him, and his reproach shall his Lord ance shall be hid from mine eyes. return unto him. 15 Though he be fruitful among his CHAP. XIII. brethren, an east wind shall come, the HEN Ephraim spake trembling, he wind of the LORD shall come up from the

WHEN when wilde mess, and his spring shall become dry..

be offended in Baal, he died.

and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall

2 And now they sin more and more, and spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels. have made them molten images of their 16 Samaria shall become desolate; for silver, and idols according to their own she hath rebelled against her God: they understanding, all of it the work of the shall fall by the sword: their infants shall craftsmen they say of them, Let the men be dashed in pieces, and their women with that sacrifice kiss the calves. child shall be ripped up.

3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind, out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no God but me: for there is no saviour besides me. 5¶ I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

CHAP. XIV.
ISRAEL, return unto the LORD thy
God; for thou hast fallen by thine

iniquity.

2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any 6 According to their pasture, so were more to the work of our hands, Ye are our they filled; they were filled, and their gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth heart was exalted: therefore have they mercy. forgotten me.

Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them. 8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his 9 TO Israel, thou hast destroyed thy-smell as Lebanon. self; but in me is thine help.

7 They that dwell under his shadow 10I will be thy king: where is any other shall return; they shall revive as the corn, that may save thee in all thy cities? and and grow as the vine: the scent thereof thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me shall be as the wine of Lebanon. a king and princes?

I

111 gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.

12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.

8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols! I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green firtree. From me is thy fruit found.

9 Who is wise, and he shall understand 13 The sorrows of a travailing woman these things? prudent, and he shall know shall come upon him: he is an unwise them? for the ways of the LORD are right, son; for he should not stay long in the and the just shall walk in them: but the place of the breaking forth of children. transgressors shall fall therein.

T

CHAP. I.

JOEL.

4 That which the palmer-worm hath HE word of the LORD that came to left hath the locust eaten; and that which Joel the son of Pethuel. the locust hath left bath the canker-worm eaten; and that which the canker-worm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten.

2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of 5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and your fathers? howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of 3 Tell ye your children of it, and let the new wine; for it is cut off from your your children tell their children, and their mouth. children another generation.

For a nation is come up upon my land,

[ocr errors]

God recommends fasting.

CHAP. II. The terribleness of God's judgment.

strong, and without number, whose teeth people and a strong; there hath not been are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the ever the like, neither shall be any more afcheek teeth of a great lion. ter it, even to the years of many gene

7 He hath laid my vine waste, and rations. barked my fig-tree: he hath made it clean 3 A fire devoureth before them; and bare, and cast it away; the branches there- behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and

of are made white.

8 Lament like a virgin girded with sack-behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

cloth for the husband of her youth.
9 The meat-offering and the drink-offer-

ing is cut off from the house of the LORD;
the priests, the LORD's ministers, mourn.
10 The field is wasted, the land mourn-
eth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine
is dried up, the oil languisheth.

4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen so shall they run.

5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, 11 Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; as a strong people set in battle-array. howl, O ye vine-dressers, for the wheat 6 Before their face the people shall be and for the barley; because the harvest of much pained: all faces shall gather blackthe field is perished.

ness.

12 The vine is dried up, and the fig-tree 7 They shall run like mighty men; they languisheth; the pomegranate-tree, the shall climb the wall like men of war; and palm-tree also, and the apple-tree, even all they shall march every one on his ways, the trees of the field, are withered: be- and they shall not break their ranks: cause joy is withered away from the sons of men.

13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat-offering and the drink-offering is withholden from the house of your God.

14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD, 15 Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: 16 Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, for the day of the LORD is great and very yea, joy and gladness from the house of our terrible; and who can abide it? God?

17 The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.

18 How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

19 O LORD, to thee will I cry for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.

20 The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

CHAP. II.

12 T Therefore also now, saith the LORD, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat-offering and a drink-offering unto the LORD your God?

15T Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly :

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the LOW ye the trumpet in Zion, and children, and those that suck the breasts: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: and the bride out of her closet. for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the nigh at hand; LORD, weep between the porch and the 2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the O LORD, and give not thine heritage to remorning spread upon the mountains: a great proach, that the heathen should rule ove

A blessing is promised.

JOEL.

God's judgment on his enemies.

them: wherefore should they say among the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, the people, Where is their God? 2 I will also gather all nations, and will

18 Then will the LORD be jealous for bring them down into the valley of Jehohis land, and pity his people. shaphat, and will plead with them there 19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say for my people and for my heritage Israel, unto his people, Behold, I will send you whom they have scattered among the nacorn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be tions, and parted my land. satisfied therewith: and I will no more 3 And they have cast lots for my people; make you a reproach among the heathen: and have given a boy for a harlot, and 20 But I will remove far off from you the sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. northern army, and will drive him into a 4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, land barren and desolate, with his face to- O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of ward the east sea; and his hinder part to- Palestine? will ye render me a recomward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

pense? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head;

5. Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things.

6 The children also of Judah and the

21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice for the LORD will do great things. 22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig-tree children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto and the vine do yield their strength. the Grecians, that ye might remove them 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, far from their border. and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he 7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place hath given you the former rain moderately, whither ye have sold them, and will return and he will cause to come down for you your recompense upon your own head: the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.

24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, 9 Proclaim ye this among the Genand the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, tiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty my great army which I sent among you. men, let all the men of war draw near; let 26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be sa- them come up:

tisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your 10 Beat your plough-shares into swords, God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and your pruning-hooks into spears: let and my people shall never be ashamed. the weak say, I am strong.

27 And ye shall know that I am in the 11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD ye heathen, and gather yourselves together your God, and none else: and my people round about: thither cause thy mighty shall never be ashamed. ones to come down, O LORD.

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, 12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there and your sons and your daughters shall will I sit to judge all the heathen round prophesy, your old men shall dream about.

dreams; your young men shall see visions: 13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest 29 and also upon the servants and upon is ripe : come, get you down; for the press the handmaids in those days will I pour is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedout my Spirit. ness is great.

30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

32 And it shall come to pass, that who- 16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, soever shall call on the name of the LORD and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and heavens and the earth shall shake: but the in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD will be the hope of his people, and LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the strength of the children of Israel. the LORD shall call. 17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion my holy moun OR behold, in those days, and in tain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there that time, when I shall bring again shall no strangers pass through her any more.

FOR

CHAP. III.

« PreviousContinue »