Days of Recompense

Hosea 9

Israel is warned not to rejoice as other nations do, for she has played the harlot away from her God, and so the days of vengeance and recompense are coming, with exile among Egypt and Assyria. The chapter closes with the sorrow of a people who will be bereaved of children and cast out of the Lord's house because of their disobedience.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonREJOICE not, Israel; nor be elated like the tribes, because thou hast gone a-whoring from thy God. Thou didst love gifts on every corn floor;

BrentonRejoice not, O Israel, neither make merry, as other nations: for thou hast gone a-whoring from thy God; thou hast loved gifts upon every threshing-floor.

GreekΜὴ χαῖρε Ἰσραήλ, μηδὲ εὐφραίνου καθὼς οἱ λαοὶ, διότι ἐπόρνευσας ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ σου· ἠγάπησας δόματα ἐπὶ πάντα ἅλωνα σίτου.

KJVRejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.

JPSRejoice not, O Israel, unto exultation, like the peoples, For thou hast gone astray from thy God, Thou hast loved a harlot’s hire upon every corn-floor.

Thomsonfloor and press have disowned them, and the wine hath disappointed them.

BrentonThe threshing-floor and wine-press knew them not, and the wine disappointed them.

GreekἍλων καὶ ληνὸς οὐκ ἔγνω αὐτούς, καὶ ὁ οἶνος ἐψεύσατο αὐτούς.

KJVThe floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.

JPSThe threshing-floor and the wine-press shall not feed them, And the new wine shall fail her.

ThomsonThey did not dwell in the land of the Lord: Ephraim became an inhabitant of Egypt; therefore among the Assyrians they shall eat unclean things.

BrentonThey dwelt not in the Lord's land: Ephraim dwelt in Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things among the Assyrians.

GreekΟὐ κατῴκησαν ἐν τῇ γῇ τοῦ Κυρίου· κατῴκησεν Ἐφραὶμ Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἐν Ἀσσυρίοις ἀκάθαρτα φάγονται.

KJVThey shall not dwell in the LORD’s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.

JPSThey shall not dwell in the LORD’S land; But Ephraim shall return to Egypt, And they shall eat unclean food in Assyria.

ThomsonThey did not pour out wine to the Lord nor offer His sweet incense; their sacrifices shall be to them like the bread of affliction; all that eat thereof shall be polluted. Seeing their funeral loaves cannot come into the house of the Lord,

BrentonThey have not offered wine to the Lord, neither have their sacrifices been sweet to him, but as the bread of mourning to them; all that eat them shall be defiled; for their bread for their soul shall not enter into the house of the Lord.

GreekΟὐκ ἔσπεισαν τῷ Κυρίῳ οἶνον, καὶ οὐχ ἥδυναν αὐτῷ αἱ θυσίαι αὐτῶν, ὡς ἄρτος πένθους αὐτοῖς· πάντες οἱ ἐσθίοντες αὐτὰ μιανθήσονται, διότι οἱ ἄρτοι αὐτῶν ταῖς ψυχαῖς αὐτῶν οὐκ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὸν οἶκον Κυρίου.

KJVThey shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.

JPSThey shall not pour out wine-offerings to the LORD, Neither shall they be pleasing unto Him; Their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners, All that eat thereof shall be polluted; For their bread shall be for their appetite, It shall not come into the house of the LORD.

Thomsonwhat will you do on the day of a solemn assembly; and on a day of a festival of the Lord?

BrentonWhat will ye do in the day of the general assembly, and in the day of the feast of the Lord?

GreekΤί ποιήσετε ἐν ἡμέραις πανηγύρεως, καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἑορτῆς τοῦ Κυρίου;

KJVWhat will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?

JPSWhat will ye do in the day of the appointed season, And in the day of the feast of the LORD?

ThomsonFor this cause, behold, they are going from the misery of Egypt; and Memphis shall receive them and Machmas shall bury them. As for their silver, destruction shall inherit it. Thorns shall be in their habitations.

BrentonTherefore, behold, they go forth from the trouble of Egypt, and Memphis shall receive them, and Machmas shall bury them: as for their silver, destruction shall inherit it; thorns shall be in their tents.

GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο ἰδοὺ πορεύονται ἐκ ταλαιπωρίας Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἐκδέξεται αὐτοὺς Μέμφις, καὶ θάψει αὐτοὺς Μαχμάς· τὸ ἀργύριον αὐτῶν ὄλεθρος κληρονομήσει αὐτὸ, ἄκανθαι ἐν τοῖς σκηνώμασιν αὐτῶν.

KJVFor, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.

JPSFor, lo, they are gone away from destruction, Yet Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them; Their precious treasures of silver, nettles shall possess them, Thorns shall be in their tents.

ThomsonThe days of the visitation are come; at hand are the days of thy recompence, and Israel shall be afflicted like the prophet who was struck with horror—the man who had been taken by winds [of madness]. By the multitude of thine iniquities thy madness was increased.

BrentonThe days of vengeance are come, the days of thy recompense are come; and Israel shall be afflicted as the prophet that is mad, as a man deranged: by reason of the multitude of thine iniquities thy madness has abounded.

GreekἭκασιν αἱ ἡμέραι τῆς ἐκδικήσεως, ἥκασιν αἱ ἡμέραι τῆς ἀνταποδόσεώς σου, καὶ κακωθήσεται Ἰσραὴλ ὥσπερ ὁ προφήτης ὁ παρεξεστηκώς, ἄνθρωπος ὁ πνευματοφόρος· ὑπὸ τοῦ πλήθους τῶν ἀδικιῶν σου ἐπληθύνθη μανία σου.

KJVThe days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.

JPSThe days of visitation are come, The days of recompense are come, Israel shall know it. The prophet is a fool, the man of the spirit is mad! For the multitude of thine iniquity, the enmity is great.

Thomson(p) Ephraim was a watchman with God; [but that] prophet was a cunning snare in all his ways; they had made madness in a house of God;

BrentonThe watchman of Ephraim was with God: the prophet is a crooked snare in all his ways: they have established madness in the house of God.

GreekΣκοπὸς Ἐφραὶμ μετὰ Θεοῦ· προφήτης παγὶς σκολιὰ ἐπὶ πάσας τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ, μανίαν ἐν οἴκῳ Θεοῦ κατέπηξαν.

KJVThe watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.

JPSEphraim is a watchman with my God; As for the prophet, a fowler’s snare is in all his ways, And enmity in the house of his God.

Thomsonthey were corrupt as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their iniquity; He will punish their sins.

BrentonThey have corrupted themselves according to the days of the hill: he will remember their iniquities, he will take vengeance on their sins.

GreekἘφθάρησαν κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ βουνοῦ, μνησθήσεται ἀδικίας αὐτῶν, ἐκδικήσει ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.

KJVThey have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.

JPSThey have deeply corrupted themselves, As in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their iniquity, He will punish their sins.

Thomson(J) I found Israel as a bunch of grapes in a wilderness; and I saw their fathers like an early watcher in a fig orchard. They went to Beelphegor and abandoned themselves to shame, and became as abominable as they had been beloved.

BrentonI found Israel as grapes in the wilderness, and I saw their fathers as an early watchman in a fig-tree: they went in to Beel-phegor, and were shamefully estranged, and the abominable became as the beloved.

GreekὩς σταφυλὴν ἐν ἐρήμῳ εὗρον τὸν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ὡς σκοπὸν ἐν συκῇ πρώϊμον πατέρας αὐτῶν εἶδον· αὐτοὶ εἰσῆλθον πρὸς τὸν Βεελφεγὼρ, καὶ ἀπηλλοτριώθησαν εἰς αἰσχύνην, καὶ ἐγένοντο οἱ ἐβδελυγμένοι ὡς οἱ ἠγαπημένοι.

KJVI found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

JPSI found Israel like grapes in the wilderness, I saw your fathers as the first-ripe in the fig-tree at her first season; But so soon as they came to Baal-peor, They separated themselves unto the shameful thing, And became detestable like that which they loved.

ThomsonEphraim is flown like a bird; their glories from parentage, births, and conceptions are gone.

BrentonEphraim has flown away as a bird; their glories from the birth, and the travail, and the conception.

GreekἘφραὶμ ὡς ὄρνεον ἐξεπετάσθη, αἱ δόξαι αὐτῶν ἐκ τόκων καὶ ὠδίνων καὶ συλλήψεων·

KJVAs for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.

JPSAs for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird; There shall be no birth, and none with child, and no conception.

ThomsonFor thou they bring up their children, they shall be bereaved of them from among men: for (and alas for them! My flesh is of them)

BrentonFor even if they should rear their children, yet shall they be utterly bereaved: wherefore also there is woe to them, though my flesh is of them.

GreekΔιότι καὶ ἐὰν ἐκθρέψωσι τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν, ἀτεκνωθήσονται ἐξ ἀνθρώπων· διότι καὶ οὐαὶ αὐτοῖς ἐστι· σάρξ μου ἐξ αὐτῶν.

KJVThough they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!

JPSYea, though they bring up their children, Yet will I bereave them, that there be not a man left; Yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!

ThomsonEphraim, as I have seen, have roused their children for a hunt—even Ephraim hath, that he may lead out his children to a fatal conflict. Give them—

BrentonEphraim, even as I saw, gave their children for a prey; yea, Ephraim was ready to bring out his children to slaughter.

GreekἘφραὶμ, ὃν τρόπον εἶδον, εἰς θήραν παρέστησαν τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν, καὶ Ἐφραὶμ, τοῦ ἐξαγαγεῖν εἰς ἀποκέντησιν τὰ τέκνα αὐτοῦ.

KJVEphraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.

JPS—

Thomson(p) O Lord, what wilt thou give them? (J) —A womb incapable of bearing children and dry breasts.

BrentonGive them, O Lord: what wilt thou give them? a miscarrying womb, and dry breasts.

GreekΔὸς αὐτοῖς Κύριε, τί δώσεις αὐτοῖς; μήτραν ἀτεκνοῦσαν, καὶ μαστοὺς ξηρούς.

KJVGive them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

JPSGive them, O LORD, whatsoever Thou wilt give; Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

ThomsonAll their wickedness was occasioned by Galgal; * because I hated them there on account of the wickedness of their devices, I will drive them out of My house; I will no longer continue to love them. All their chiefs are become rebellious.

BrentonAll their wickedness is in Galgal: for there I hated them: because of the wickedness of their practices, I will cast them out of my house, I will not love them any more: all their princes are disobedient.

GreekΠᾶσαι αἱ κακίαι αὐτῶν ἐν Γαλγάλ, ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐμίσησα αὐτούς· διὰ τὰς κακίας τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων αὐτῶν, ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου μου ἐκβαλῶ αὐτοὺς, οὐ μὴ προσθήσω τοῦ ἀγαπῆσαι αὐτούς· πάντες οἱ ἄρχοντες αὐτῶν ἀπειθοῦντες.

KJVAll their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.

JPSAll their wickedness is in Gilgal, For there I hated them; Because of the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of My house; I will love them no more, All their princes are rebellious.

ThomsonEphraim is in distress. His roots are withered. He shall no more produce fruit. For though they bring forth, I will slay the beloved fruit of the womb.

BrentonEphraim is sick, he is dried up at his roots, he shall in no wise any more bear fruit: wherefore even if they should beget children, I will kill the desired fruit of their womb.

GreekἘπόνεσεν Ἐφραίμ· τὰς ῥίζας αὐτοῦ ἐξηράνθη, καρπὸν οὐκ ἔτι μὴ ἐνέγκῃ· διότι καὶ ἐὰν γεννήσωσιν, ἀποκτενῶ τὰ ἐπιθυμήματα κοιλίας αὐτῶν.

KJVEphraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.

JPSEphraim is smitten, Their root is dried up, They shall bear no fruit; Yea, though they bring forth, Yet will I slay the beloved fruit of their womb.

Thomson(p) God will cast them off because they hearkened not to Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

BrentonGod shall reject them, because they have not hearkened to him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

GreekἈπώσεται αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεός, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσήκουσαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσονται πλανῆται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν.

KJVMy God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

JPSMy God will cast them away, Because they did not hearken unto Him; And they shall be wanderers among the nations.