1The word of the LORD that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri. It came 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.
2This is the beginning of the word of the LORD through Hosea. The LORD said to Hosea, "Go, take for yourself a wife of whoredom, and children of whoredom. For the land has committed great whoredom, turning away from the LORD."
3So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim. She became pregnant and bore him a son.
4The LORD said to him, "Call his name Jezreel. For in a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel."
5"On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel."
6She became pregnant again and bore a daughter. And God said to him, "Call her name Loruhamah. For I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, but I will take them away completely."
7"But I will have mercy on the house of Judah. I will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by battle, or by horses, or by horsemen."
8When she had weaned Loruhamah, she became pregnant and bore a son.
9Then God said, "Call his name Loammi. For you are not my people, and I will not be your God."
10Yet the number of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," there it will be said to them, "You are the sons of the living God."