1烏西雅、約坦、亞哈斯和希西迦做猶大王，約阿施的兒子耶羅波安做以色列王期間，耶和華將祂的話傳給備利的兒子何西阿。
何西阿娶妓女為妻
2耶和華首次向何西阿說話時，對他說：「你去娶一個妓女為妻，和她生養兒女，因為這片土地上的人極其淫亂，背棄了耶和華。」 3於是，何西阿娶了滴拉音的女兒歌蜜為妻，她懷孕為他生了一個兒子。 4耶和華對何西阿說：「給他取名叫耶斯列1·4 「耶斯列」意思是「上帝撒種」。此處指上帝要像撒種一樣驅散以色列人，但在1·11指上帝要賜福他們，就像撒種後獲得了大豐收。，因為再過不久，我就要因耶戶家在耶斯列的屠殺而懲罰他們，消滅以色列國。 5那時，我要在耶斯列平原折斷以色列的弓。」 6後來，歌蜜又懷孕生了一個女兒。耶和華對何西阿說：「給她取名叫羅·路哈瑪1·6 「羅·路哈瑪」意思是「不蒙憐憫」。，因為我將不再憐憫以色列家，也不再赦免他們的罪。 7但我要憐憫猶大家，使他們依靠他們的上帝耶和華得到拯救，而不是依靠戰弓、刀劍、馬匹、騎兵和戰爭。」 8羅·路哈瑪斷奶後，歌蜜又懷孕生了一個兒子。 9耶和華說：「給他取名叫羅·阿米1·9 「羅·阿米」意思是「不是我的子民」。，因為以色列人不再是我的子民，我也不再是他們的上帝。
以色列的復興
10「然而，以色列的人數必像海沙一樣量不盡、數不完。從前我在什麼地方對他們說『你們不是我的子民』，將來也要在那裡對他們說『你們是永活上帝的兒女』。 11那時，猶大人和以色列人將被聚集起來，為自己選立一位首領，從流亡之地返回故鄉，安居樂業。耶斯列的日子將是偉大的日子。
1The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.
2The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. 3So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son. 4And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.1.4 avenge: Heb. visit 5And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.
6¶ And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.1.6 Lo-ruhamah: that is, Not having obtained mercy1.6 no…: Heb. not add any more to1.6 but…: or, that I should altogether pardon them 7But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
8¶ Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. 9Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.1.9 Lo-ammi: that is, Not my people
10¶ Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.1.10 in…: or, instead of that 11Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
