Hosea 9:12-16

¹²Even if they did give birth, I''d declare them unfit parents and take away their children! Yes indeed--a black day for them when I turn my back and walk off!

¹³I see Ephraim letting his children run wild. He might just as well take them and kill them outright!"

¹⁴Give it to them, GOD! But what? Give them a dried-up womb and shriveled breasts.

¹⁵"All their evil came out into the open at the pagan shrine at Gilgal. Oh, how I hated them there! Because of their evil practices, I''ll kick them off my land. I''m wasting no more love on them. Their leaders are a bunch of rebellious adolescents.

¹⁶Ephraim is hit hard--roots withered, no more fruit. Even if by some miracle they had children, the dear babies wouldn''t live--I''d make sure of that!"