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7 The days of visitation have arrived; the days of retribution are here. Know this, Israel: that the prophet was foolish, the spiritual man was mad, because of the multitude of your iniquities and the great extent of your foolishness. 8 The watcher of Ephraim was with my God. The prophet has become a snare of ruin over all his ways; insanity is in the house of his God. 9 They have sinned profoundly, just as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their iniquity, and he will repay their sin. 10 I discovered Israel like grapes in the desert. Like the first fruits of the fig tree, I saw their fathers on the end of its branches. But they went in to Baal-peor, and they have been estranged by intermingling, and they have became abominable, just like the things that they chose to love. 11 Ephraim has chased away their glory like a bird: from birth, and from the womb, and from conception. 12 And even if they should nurture their sons, I will make them without children among men. Yes, and woe to them, when I have withdrawn from them. 13 Ephraim, as I see it, was a Tyre, founded by beauty. And Ephraim will lead his sons to execution. 14 Give them, O Lord. What will you give them? Give them a womb without children, and dry breasts. 15 All their wickedness is in Gilgal, for I held them there, in their hatred. Because of the malice of their inventions, I will expel them from my house. I will no longer say that I love them; all their leaders have retreated. 16 Ephraim has been struck; their root has been dried out: by no means will they yield fruit. And even if they should conceive, I will execute the most beloved of their womb. 17 My God will cast them aside because they have not listened to him; and they will be wanderers among the nations. Hosea 9:7-17, Catholic Public Domain Version. Public domain.
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