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Hosea 9:14-16
New Catholic Bible
Hosea 9:14-16
New Catholic Bible
14 Give them, O Lord—
what will you give?
Give them wombs that miscarry[a]
and dried-up breasts.
15 All of their wickedness had its root in Gilgal;[b]
it was there that I came to hate them.
Because of their evil deeds,
I will drive them out of my house.
I will no longer love them;
all of their rulers are rebels.
16 Ephraim is stricken;
their root is withered,
and they yield no fruit.
Even if they bring forth children,
I will slay the cherished offspring of their womb.
Footnotes
- Hosea 9:14 Wombs that miscarry: probably a reversal of the ancient blessing of Joseph (see Gen 49:25f) wherein the fruitfulness of the Patriarch is dignified by his son Ephraim’s name; now Hosea calls down the scourge of extinction upon the descendants of Ephraim.
- Hosea 9:15 Gilgal: the people had gathered in Gilgal to establish the monarchy (see 1 Sam 11:4ff).
