Hosea 1 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

This is the message Yahweh gave to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah as kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Joash as king of Israel.

When Yahweh first began speaking through Hosea, Yahweh told him, "Go marry a woman given to prostitution and have children with her, because this land has been nothing but unfaithful to Yahweh — throwing itself after other lovers."

So Hosea went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She became pregnant and gave him a son.

Yahweh told him, "Name him Jezreel, because it won't be long before I hold the house of Jehu accountable for the blood spilled at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel."

"On that day, I will snap Israel's military power in the Valley of Jezreel."

Gomer became pregnant again and had a daughter. Yahweh told Hosea, "Name her Lo-ruhamah — 'No Compassion' — because I will no longer show compassion to the house of Israel. I will absolutely not forgive them."

"But I will show compassion to the house of Judah. I will rescue them — not with bow or sword or warfare, not with horses and cavalry, but through Yahweh their God himself."

After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she became pregnant and had another son.

Yahweh said, "Name him Lo-ammi — 'Not My People' — because you are not my people, and I am not your God."

"Yet the number of the Israelites will be like sand on the seashore — impossible to measure, impossible to count. And in the very place where they were told, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'children of the living God.'"

"The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be brought back together. They will appoint one leader over them and rise up from the land, because the day of Jezreel will be extraordinary."