Hosea 4:16 - Easy To Read Version The Lord has given many things to Israel. He is like a shepherd that takes his sheep to a large field with much grass. But Israel is stubborn. Israel is like a young cow that runs away again and again. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition For Israel has behaved stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. How then should he expect to be fed and treated by the Lord like a lamb in a large pasture? American Standard Version (1901) For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place. Common English Bible Like a stubborn cow Israel is stubborn. Now the LORD will tend them, as the LORD tends a lamb in a pasture. Catholic Public Domain Version For Israel has gone astray like a wanton heifer; so now the Lord will pasture them like a young lamb in a wide expanse. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version For Israel hath gone astray like a wanton heifer: now will the Lord feed them, as a lamb in a spacious place. |
If the people teach their God’s commands\par to their children,\par then the children will not be like\par their ancestors. {\cf2\super [444]} \par Their ancestors turned against God.\par They refused to obey him.\par Those people were stubborn.\par They were not loyal to God’s Spirit.\par
At that time, the Lord will send rain for you. You will plant seeds in the ground, and the ground will grow food for you. You will have a very large harvest. You will have plenty of food in the fields for your animals. There will be large fields for your sheep.
\{God will make the people of Israel leave their country; the land will be empty.\} Sheep will go any place they want. Lambs will walk on the land that rich people once owned.
“We know that those things are our fault.\par We are now suffering because of our sins.\par Lord, do something to help us for the good of your name.\par We admit that we left you many times.\par We have sinned against you.\par
The Lord said to me, “Israel was not faithful to me. But she had a better excuse than unfaithful Judah.
The Lord spoke to me during the time King Josiah was ruling the nation of Judah. The Lord said: “Jeremiah, you saw the bad things that Israel {\cf2\super [15]} did? You saw how she was unfaithful to me. She did the sin of adultery with idols on every hill and under every green tree.
Israel was unfaithful and Israel knew why I sent her away. Israel knew that I divorced her because she did the sin of adultery. But that did not make her unfaithful sister afraid. Judah, was not afraid. Judah also went out and acted like a prostitute.
I have heard Ephraim {\cf2\super [254]} crying.\par I heard Ephraim say these things:\par ‘Lord, you really punished me!\par And I learned my lesson.\par I was like a calf that was never trained.\par Please stop punishing me,\par and I will come back to you.\par You truly are the Lord my God.\par
They turned against God,\par so a lion from the forest will attack them.\par A wolf from the desert will kill them.\par A leopard is hiding near their cities.\par The leopard will tear to pieces\par any person that comes out of the city.\par This will happen because the people\par of Judah have sinned again and again.\par They have wandered away from the Lord\par many times.\par
“But your ancestors {\cf2\super [64]} did not listen to me. They did not pay attention to me. They were stubborn and did the things they wanted to do. They did not become good. They became even more evil—they went backward, not forward.
The people of Judah went (lived)\par the wrong way.\par But why do those people of Jerusalem\par continue going the wrong way?\par They believe their own lies.\par They refuse to turn around and come back.\par
Ephraim {\cf2\super [108]} is like a trained young cow that loves to walk on grain on the threshing floor. {\cf2\super [109]} I will put a good yoke {\cf2\super [110]} on her neck. I will put the ropes on Ephraim. Then Judah will begin plowing. Jacob {\cf2\super [111]} will break the ground himself.
The sword will swing against their cities. It will kill their strong men. It will destroy their leaders.
“My people expect me to come back. They will call to God above. But God will not help them.”
I will scatter you among the nations. I will pull out my sword and destroy you. Your land will become empty and your cities will be destroyed.
But those people refused to listen.\par They refused to do what he wanted.\par They closed their ears so they\par could not hear what God said.\par
The Lord said, “Saul has stopped following me. So I am sorry that I made Saul king. He is not doing what I tell him.” Samuel became angry and cried to the Lord all night.