1The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah,a Jotham,b Ahaz,c and Hezekiah,d kings of Judah, and of Jeroboame son of Jehoash, king of Israel.

Hosea’s Marriage and Children

2When the Lord first spoke to Hosea, he said this to him:

Go and marry a woman of promiscuity,a

and have children of promiscuity,

for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity

by abandoning the Lord.

3So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.a 4Then the Lord said to him:

Name him Jezreel,a a for in a little while

I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreelb

on the house of Jehuc

and put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.

5On that day I will break the bow of Israela

in Jezreel Valley.b

6She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, and the Lord said to him:

Name her Lo-ruhamah,A

for I will no longer have compassion

on the house of Israel.

I will certainly take them away.

7But I will have compassion on the house of Judah,a

and I will deliver them by the Lord their God.b

I will not deliver them by bow, sword, or war,

or by horses and cavalry.c

8After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. 9Then the Lord said:

Name him Lo-ammi,A

for you are not my people,

and I will not be your God.B a

10Yet the number of the Israelites

will be like the sand of the sea,a

which cannot be measured or counted.

And in the place where they were told:

You are not my people,

they will be called: Sons of the living God.b

11And the Judeans and the Israelites

will be gathered together.a

They will appoint for themselves a single rulerb

and go up fromA the land.

For the day of Jezreelc will be great.