1The word of the Lord that came unto Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of ‘Uzziyah, Jotham, Achaz, and Hezekiah, the kings of Judah, and in the days of Jerobo’am the son of Joash the king of Israel. 2The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea was, that the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of prostitution and children of prostitution; for the inhabitants of the land go far astray, departing from the Lord. 3So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblayim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4And the Lord said unto him, Call his name Yizre’el; for but yet a little while, when I will visit the blood of Yizre’el upon the house of Jehu, and I will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5And it shall come to pass on that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Yizre’el. 6And she conceived again, and bore a daughter: and he said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruchamah [Not finding mercy] ; for I will not farther have any more mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will give them their full recompense. 7But upon the house of Judah will I have mercy, and I will save them through the Lord their God, and I will not save them by the bow, or by the sword, or by battle, by horses, or by horsemen. 8Now when she had weaned Lo-ruchamah, she conceived, and bore a son. 9Then said he, Call his name Lo-’ammi [Not my people] ; for ye are not my people, and I will indeed not be unto you a God. 10 11