1The word from Yahweh that came to Hosea, son of Beeri, during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam, son of Joash, king of Israel.
2When Yahweh first spoke through Hosea, Yahweh told Hosea, “Go and marry a prostitute and have children with her, because the land has acted like a great prostitute by turning away from Yahweh.”
3So he went and married Gomer, daughter of Diblaim. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son.
4Yahweh told him, “Name him Jezreel, because in a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed in Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.
5On that day, I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.”
6She became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. Then Yahweh told him, “Name her Lo-Ruhamah, because I will no longer show mercy to the people of Israel or forgive them in any way.
7But I will have mercy on the people of Judah. I will save them by Yahweh their God, and not by military power like bows, swords, battles, horses, or horsemen.”
8After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer became pregnant again and gave birth to a son.
9He said, “Name him Lo-Ammi, because you are not my people, and I will no longer be your God.”
10Yet, the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. In the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’
11The people of Judah and the people of Israel will gather together. They will choose one leader for themselves and come up out of the land, because the day of Jezreel will be great.