Scriptures

New Living Translation (NLT)

Hosea 10
¹² I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’
¹³ “But you have cultivated wickedness and harvested a thriving crop of sins. You have eaten the fruit of lies— trusting in your military might, believing that great armies could make your nation safe.
¹⁴ Now the terrors of war will rise among your people. All your fortifications will fall, just as when Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel. Even mothers and children were dashed to death there.
¹⁵ You will share that fate, Bethel, because of your great wickedness. When the day of judgment dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.
Hosea 11
¹ “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.
² But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols.
³ I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him.
⁴ I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him.
⁵ “But since my people refuse to return to me, they will return to Egypt and will be forced to serve Assyria.
⁶ War will swirl through their cities; their enemies will crash through their gates. They will destroy them, trapping them in their own evil plans.
⁷ For my people are determined to desert me. They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me.