Hosea — The Coverdale Bible (1535)

Hosea is the first of the twelve minor prophets, whose marriage figures God’s love for unfaithful Israel. In Coverdale’s Bible of 1535 it stands in the Prophets under the heading “The Prophet Oseas”. Coverdale’s summary of the chapters stands before the text; the 1535 Bible has no verse numbers, so the text keeps its own paragraphs, in 14 chapters, with the marginal notes and references printed after each chapter.

What Oseas conteyneth.

• Chap. I. God refuseth the Iewes, and ma⟨illegible⟩eth himself to the Gentiles.
• Chap. II. Plage ouer the Iewes, that will not amende: A promyse of mercy to those that wil repente.
• Chap· III. The mercifull loue of God, towarde the same vnthankful people.
• Chap. IIII. The synnes of the prestes and of the people, with reprofe for the same.
• Chap. V. Against the prestes that disceaue the people.
• Chap. VI. The vnthankfulnes of the People: Agayne, the louynge kyndnesse of God.
• Chap. VII. No medycine can helpe, so sore are they wounded with ydolatry.
• Chap. VIII. Idolatry in Samaria and Israel.
• Chap. IX. Punyszhment vpon Israel for Idolatry.
• Chap. X. The vnthankfulnesse of Israel. The calfe in Samaria, for the which and soch like abhominacions, he telleth them of destruccion.
• Cha. XI.XII. God calleth them agayne, with rehearsinge his benefites done to them afore.
• Chap. XIII. He sheweth them their wickednesse, and punyszhment for the same.
• Chap. XIIII. He crieth and exorteth the people to conuerte, promisynge swetely and louyngly to receaue them.

[woodcut]

This is the worde of the LORDE, that came vnto Oseas the sonne of Beeri,⁽¹⁾ in the dayes of Osias, Ioathan, Achas & Ezechias kinges of Iuda: and in the tyme of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas kynge of Israel.

Notes

⁽¹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

Chapter 1

[A] FIrst, when the LORDE spake vnto Oseas, he saide vnto him: Go thy waye,⁽¹⁾ take an harlot to thy wife, and get childrē by her: for the ⟨illegible⟩ode hath cōmitted greate whordome agaynst the LORDE. So he wente, and toke Gomer yᵉ doughter of Deblaim: which conceaued, and brought forth a sonne. And the LORDE sayde vnto him:⁽²⁾ call his name Iesrael, for I wil shortly auenge the bloude of Iesrael vpon the house of Iehu, and will bringe the kingdome of the house of Israel to an ende. Then will I breake the bowe of Israel, in the valley of Iesrael.

[B] She conceaued yet agayne, and bare a doughter. And he sayde vnto him: Call hir name Loruhama (that is, not opteyninge mercy) ofr I wil haue no pyte vpon the house of Israel,⁽³⁾ but forget them, and put them clene out of remembraunce.⁽⁴⁾ Neuerthelesse I wil haue mercy vpon the house of Iuda, & wil saue them, euen thorow the LORDE their God. But I wil not delyuer them thorow eny bow, swearde, batel, horses or horsmen.

Now when she had weened Loruhama, she conceaued agayne, & bare a sonne. Then sayde he: call his name Lo Ami (that is to saye, not my people.) For why? ye are not my people, therfore will not I be yours. And though the nombre of the children of Israel be as the sonde of the see,⁽⁵⁾ which can nether be measured ner tolde: Yet in the place where it is sayde vnto them, ye be not my people: euen there shall it be thus reported of them: they be yᵉ childrē of the lyuynge God. Then shal the children of Iuda and the childrē of Israel be gathered together agayne,⁽⁶⁾ & chose them selues one heade, and then departe out of the londe: for greate shalbe the daye of Iesrael.

Notes to Chapter 1

⁽¹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. b ⟨illegible⟩ 4. d

⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽³⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁴⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁵⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁶⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

Chapter 2

TEll youre brethren, that they are my [A] people: and youre sisteren, that they haue optayned mercy. As for youre mother, ye shal chyde with her, and reproue her: for she is not my wife,⁽¹⁾ nether am I hir huszbōde: vnlesse she put awaye hir whordome out of my sight, and hir aduoutry from hir brestes. Yf no, I shal strype her naked, & set her, euen as she came in to yᵉ worlde:⁽²⁾ Yee I shal laye hir waist, and make her like a wildernesse, and slaye her for thyrste. I shal haue no pite also vpon hir children,⁽³⁾ for they be the children of fornicacion.

Their mother hath broken hir wedlocke, and she that bare them, is come to cōfucion.⁽⁴⁾ For she sayde: I wil go after my louers, that geue me my water and my bred, my woll & my flax, my oyle and my drynke. But I will hedge hir waye with thornes, and stoppe it, that she shal not fynde hir fotestoppes: and though she runne after hir louers, yet shall she not get them: she shal seke them,⁽⁵⁾ but not fynde them. Then shal she saye: well, I will go turne agayne to my first huszbonde, for at yᵗ tyme was I better at ease, then now. But [B] this wolde she not knowe, where as I yet gaue her corne, wyne, oyle, syluer and golde, which she hath hanged vpon Baal.

Wherfore now will I go take my corne & wyne agayne in their season,⁽⁶⁾ and fet agayne my woll and my flax, which I gaue her, to couer hir shame.⁽⁷⁾ And now will I dyscouer hir foolishnesse, euen in the sight of hir louers, and no man shal delyuer her out of my hondes. Morouer, I wil take awaye all hir myrth, hir holy dayes, hir newmoones,⁽⁸⁾ hir Sabbathes and all hir solempne feastes: I will destroye hir vynyardes and fyge trees. though she saieth: lo, here are my rewardes, that my louers haue geuen me. I wil make it a wodde, and the wylde beestes shall eate it vp: I will punysh her also for the dayes of Baal, wherin she censed him,⁽⁹⁾ deckynge him with hir earynges and cheynes: when she folowed hir louers, and forgat me, saieth the LORDE.

Wherfore beholde, I wil call her againe, bringe her in to a wildernes, and speake frendly vnto her: there wil I geue her hir vynyardes agayne,⁽¹⁰⁾ yee and the valley of Achor also, to shewe hir hope & comforte. Then shal she synge there as in the tyme of hir youth, & like as in the daye when she came out of the londe of Egipte.⁽¹¹⁾ Then (saieth the LORDE) [C] she shal saye vnto me: O my houszbande, & shal call me nomore Baal: for I wil take awaye those names of Baal from hir mouth, yee she shal neuer remembre their names eny more.⁽¹²⁾ Then will I make a couenaunt with them, with the wylde beastes, with the foules of the ayre, & with euerythinge that crepeth vpon the earth.

⁽¹³⁾As for bowe, swerde and batel, I will destroye soch out of the londe, & wil make them to slepe safely.⁽¹⁴⁾ Thus wil I mary the vnto myne owne self for euermore: yee euen to my self wil I mary the, in rightuousnesse, in equyte, in louynge kyndnesse and mercy. In faith also will I mary the vnto my self, & thou shalt knowe the LORDE. At the same tyme wil I shewe my self frendly and gracious vnto yᵉ heauens, saieth the LORDE: & the heauens shal helpe the earth, and the earth shal helpe the corne, wyne and oyle, and they shal helpe Iesrael. I wil sowe them vpō earth, for a sede to myne owne self, & wil haue mercy vpon her, yᵗ was without mercy. And to thē which were not my people,⁽¹⁵⁾ I wil saye: thou art my people. And he shal saye: thou art my God.

Notes to Chapter 2

⁽¹⁾ Iere. 3. a

⁽²⁾ Eze. 16. a

⁽³⁾ Ioh. 8. d

⁽⁴⁾ 4. Re. 17▪

⁽⁵⁾ Leui. 15. c

⁽⁶⁾ Eze. 16. b

⁽⁷⁾ Iere. 13. c

⁽⁸⁾ Deu. 16. c

⁽⁹⁾ Iud. ⟨illegible⟩. b 10. b

⁽¹⁰⁾ Iosu. 7. d

⁽¹¹⁾ Iudic. 5. a Exo. 15. a

⁽¹²⁾ Leui. 26. a

⁽¹³⁾ Esa. 2. a

⁽¹⁴⁾ Eze. 16. b

⁽¹⁵⁾ Ro. 9. c 1. Pet. 2. b

Chapter 3

[A] THen sayde yᵉ LORDE to me: Go yet yᵉ waye & wowe an aduouterous womā,⁽¹⁾ whō thy neghboure loueth, as yᵉ LORDE doth the childrē of Israel: how be it they haue respecte to straunge goddes,⁽²⁾ and loue the wyne kannes. So I gat her for xv. syluerlinges, and for an Homer and an half of barlye, & sayde vnto her: Thou shalt byde with me alonge season, but se that thou playest not the harlot, and loke thou medle with none other man, & then wil I kepe my self for the.

[B] Thus the childrē of Israel shal syt a greate whyle without kinge and prynce,⁽³⁾ without offerynge and aulter, without prest and reuelacion. But afterwarde shal the children of Israel conuerte, and seke the LORDE their God,⁽⁴⁾ and Dauid their kinge: and in yᵉ latter dayes they shal worshipe the LORDE, and his louynge kyndnesse.

Notes to Chapter 3

⁽¹⁾ Eze. 44. d

⁽²⁾ Esa. 28. a Amos 6. a

⁽³⁾ 2 Par. 25. a Dan. 3. d

⁽⁴⁾ Eze. 34. d

Chapter 4

[A] HEare yᵉ worde of the LORDE, o ye children of Israel: For the LORDE must punysh thē, yᵗ dwel in the londe. And why? There is no faith fulnesse, there is no mercy, there is no knowlege of God in the lōde: but swearinge, lyēge, māslaughter, the ft and aduoutry haue gotten the ouerhande, & one bloud giltynesse foloweth another. Therfore shal the londe be in a miserable case, and all they that dwell therin, shal mourne. The beastes in the felde, the foules in yᵉ ayre, and the fishes in the see shall dye. Yet is there none, that wil chastē nor reproue another. The prestes which shulde refourme other mē, are become like the people.

Therfore stomblest thou in yᵉ daye tyme &▪ the prophet with the in the night. I wil bringe thy mother to sylence, & why?⁽¹⁾ my people perish, because they haue no knowlege. Seinge then that thou hast refused vnderstondinge, therfore wil I refuse yᵉ also: so that then shalt nomore be my prest. And for so moch as thou hast forgotten the lawe of thy God. I wil also forget thy childrē. The more they increased in multitude, the more they synned agaynst me, therfore wil I chaurge their honoure in to shame. They eate vp the synnes of my people, & corage them in their wickednesse.⁽²⁾ Thus the prest is become like the people. Wherfore I will punysh them for their wicked wayes, & rewarde them acordinge to their owne ymaginacions▪ They shal eate, & not haue ynough: They haue vsed whordome, therfore shall they not prospere: & why? they haue forsaken the LORDE, & not regarded him.

Whordome, wyne and dronckennesse take the herte awaye. My people axe councel at their stockes, their staffe must tell them. For an whorish mynde hath disceaued them, so yᵗ they cōmitte fornicacion agaynst their God. They make sacrifice vpon the hie mountaynes, & burne their incense vpon the hilles, yee amonge the okes, groues & buszshes, for there are good shadowes. Therfore yoʳ doughters are become harlottes, and youre spouses haue brokē their wedlocke I wil not punish yoʳ doughters for beinge defyled, & yoʳ brydes that became whores:⁽³⁾ seinge the fathers themselues haue medled with harlottes, and offered with vnthriftes: but the people that wil not vnderstonde, must be punyshed.

Though thou Israel art disposed to playe yᵉ harlot, yet shuldest not thou haue offended, o Iuda:⁽⁴⁾ thou shuldest not haue runne to Galgala, ner haue gone vp to Bethauē, nor haue sworne: the LORDE lyueth. For Israel is gone backe, like a wāton cowe. The LORDE therfore shal make hir fede, as yᵉ lābe yᵗ go⟨illegible⟩eth astraye. And where as Ephraim is become partaker of Idols, wel, let him go. Their dronckēnesse hath put thē backe, & brought them to whordome. Their rulers loue rewardes, brynge (saye they,) to their owne shame. A wynde shall take holde of their fethers, & they shal be cōfounded in their offeringes.

Notes to Chapter 4

⁽¹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽³⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁴⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

Chapter 5

[A] HEare this, o ye prestes: take hede, o thou housholde of Israel: geue eare, o thou kingly house: for this punyshment wil come vpon you, that are become a snare vnto Myspa, and a spred net vnto the mount of Thabor. They kyll sacrifices by heapes, to begyle the people therwith: therfore wil I punysh them all.⁽¹⁾ I knowe Ephraim well ynough, & Israel is not hyd fro me: for Ephraim is become an harlot, and Israel is defyled. They are not mynded to turne vnto their God, for they haue an whorish herte, so yᵗ they can not knowe the LORDE.

⁽²⁾But the pryde of Israel wil be rewarded him in his face, yee both Israel and Ephraim shal fall for their wickednesse, and Iuda with them also.⁽³⁾ They shall come with their shepe & bullockes to seke yᵉ LORDE, but they shal not fynde him, for he is gone from them. As for the LORDE, they haue refused him, and brought vp bastarde children: a moneth therfore shall deuoure them with their porcions.

[B] Blowe with the shawmes at Gabea, and with the trumpet in Rama, crie out at Bethauen vpon the yonside of Ben Iamin. In the tyme of yᵉ plage shal Ephraim be layed waist, therfore dyd I faithfully warne the trybes of Israel.⁽⁴⁾ Yet are the prynces of Iuda become like them, that remoue the londemarckes, therfore wil I poure out my wrath vpon them like water. Ephraim is oppressed, and can haue no right of the lawe: for why? they folowe yᵉ doctrynes of men. Therfore will I be vnto Ephraim as a moth, & to the house of Iuda as a caterpiller.

⁽⁵⁾When Ephraim sawe his sicknesse, and Iuda his disease: Ephraim wente vnto Assur, and sent vnto kinge Iareb: yet coude not he helpe you, ner ease you of youre payne. I am vnto Ephraim as a lyon, and as a lyons whelpe to the house of Iuda. Euen I, I wil spoyle them, & go my waye. I wil take them with me, and no man shal rescue them. I wil go, and returne to my place, till they waxe faynt, and seke me.

Notes to Chapter 5

⁽¹⁾ Eze. 8. b ⟨illegible⟩. 23. d

⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩ 7. b

⁽³⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. 3. b ⟨illegible⟩. 4. ⟨illegible⟩. 14. a

⁽⁴⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. 19. d ⟨illegible⟩. ⟨illegible⟩7. b

⁽⁵⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. 1⟨illegible⟩. b ⟨illegible⟩. 28. c

Chapter 6

[A] IN their aduersite they shall seke me, and saye: come, let vs turne agayne to the LORDE:⁽¹⁾ for he hath smytten vs, and he shal heale vs: He hath wounded vs, & he shal bynde vs vp agayne: after two dayes shal be quycken vs, in the thirde daye he shal rase vs vp, so that we shal lyue in his sight. Then shal we haue vnderstondinge, & endeuoure oure selues to knowe the LORDE. He shal go forth as the sprynge of the daye, and come vnto vs as the euenynge and mornynge rayne vpon the earth.⁽²⁾

O Ephraim, what shal I do vnto the? O Iuda, how shal I intreate the? seynge youre loue is like a mornynge cloude, & like a dew yᵗ goeth early awaye. Therfore haue I cut [B] downe the prophetes, & letten them be slayne for my wordes sake: so that thy punyshment shal come to light. For I haue pleasure in louynge kyndnesse, and not in offerynge:⁽³⁾ Yee in the knowlege of God, more then in burnt sacrifice. But euen like as Adam dyd,⁽⁴⁾ so haue they broken my couenaunt, and set me at naught. Galaad is a cite of wicked doers, of malicious people and bloudshedders. The multitude of the prestes is like an heape of theues, murtherers & bloud thurstie: for they haue wrought abhominacion.⁽⁵⁾ Horrible thinges haue I sene in the house of Israel, there playeth Ephraim the harlot, and Israel is defyled: but Iuda shall haue an haruest for himself, when I returne the captiuyte of my people.

Notes to Chapter 6

⁽¹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽²⁾ Pro. 16.

⁽³⁾ Matt. 9.12. a

⁽⁴⁾ Gen. 3. b

⁽⁵⁾ Iere. 1⟨illegible⟩. b

Chapter 7

WHen I vndertake to make Israel [A] whole, then the vngraciousnesse of Ephraim and the wickednes of Samaria commeth to light: then go they aboute with lyes. At home, they be theues: and without, they fall to robbynge. They cōsidre not in their hertes, that I remēbre all their wickednes. They go aboute wᵗ their owne ynuenciōs, but I se them wel ynough. They make the kinge and the princes, to haue pleasure in their wickednes & lyes. All these burne in aduoutry, as it were an ouen yᵗ the baker heateth, whē he hath lefte kneadinge, till the dowe be leuended. Euen so goeth it this daye with oure kinges and prynces, for they begynne to be woode droncken thorow wyne: they vse familiarite with soch as disceaue thē. They with the ymaginacion of their herte are like an ouē, their slepe is all yᵉ night [B] like the slepe of a baker, in the mornynge is he as hote as the flame of fyre: they are altogether as hote as an ouen.

They haue deuoured their owne iudges, all their kinges are fallē: yet is there none of thē yᵗ calleth vpon me. Therfore must Ephraim be mixte amonge yᵉ Heithen. Ephraim is become like a cake, yᵗ no man turneth: straungers haue deuoured his strength, yet he regardeth it not: he waxeth ful of gray haires, yet wil he not knowe it: & yᵉ pride of Israel is cast downe before their face,⁽¹⁾ yet wil they not turne to the LORDE their God, ner seke him, for all this.

Ephraim is like a doue, that is begyled, and hath no herte.⁽²⁾ Now call they vpon the [C] Egipcians, now go they to the Assirians: but whyle they be goinge here and there, I shal sprede my net ouer them, & drawe them downe as yᵉ foules of the ayre: and acordinge as they haue bene warned, so will I punysh them.⁽³⁾ Wo be vnto them, for they haue forsakē me. They must be destroyed, for they haue set me at naught.⁽⁴⁾ I am he that haue redemed them, and yet they dyssemble wᵗ me. They call not vpon me with their hartes, but lye youlinge vpon their beddes. Where as they come together, it is but for meate & drincke, and me will they not obeye. I haue taught them, and defended their arme, yet do they ymagin myschefe agaynst me. They turne them selues, but not a right, & are become as a broken bowe. Their prynces shalbe slayne wᵗ the swearde, for the malice of their tunges, soch blasphemies haue they lerned in the londe of Egipte.

Notes to Chapter 7

⁽¹⁾ Osee ⟨illegible⟩. a

⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. Re▪ 1⟨illegible⟩. b

⁽³⁾ Esa. 1. a

⁽⁴⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. Pet. 2. a Matt. 15. a Esa. 29. d Eze. 33. f

Chapter 8

[A] SEt the horne to thy mouth, and blowe: get the swiftly (as an Aegle) vnto the house of the LORDE:⁽¹⁾ for they haue broken my couenaunt, and transgressed my lawe. Israel can saye vnto me: thou art my God, we knowe the: but he hath refused the thinge that is good, therfore shall the enemye folowe vpon him.⁽²⁾ They haue ordened kinges, but not thorow me: they haue made prynces, and I must not knowe of it. Of their syluer and golde haue they made them ymages,⁽³⁾ to bringe them selues to destruccion.

⁽⁴⁾Thy calfe (O Samaria) shalbe taken awaye. for my wrothfull indignacion is gone forth agaynst the. How longe wil it be, or they can be clensed? For the calfe came from Israel, the worke man made it, therfore can it be no God, but euen to a spyders webbe shal yᵉ calfe of Samaria be turned. They haue sowne wynde, therfore shal they reepe a storme.

[B] Their sede shal beare no corne, there shal no meel be made of their increase: though yᵉ re be, yet shall straungers deuoure it vp. Israel shall perish, the Gentiles shall entreate him as a foule vessel. Sens they went vp to the Assirians, they are become like a wylde asse in the deserte.

⁽⁵⁾Ephraim geueth rewardes to get louers, therfore are they scatred amōge the Heithē, there wil I gather them vp. They shal soone be weery of the burthen of kinges & prynces. Ephraim hath made many aulters to do wickednes, therfore shal the aulters turne to his synne. Though I shewe thē my lawe neuer so moch, they counte it but straunge doctrine. Where as they do sacrifice, offeringe the flesh and eatinge it: the LORDE will haue no pleasure therin: but will remembre their wickednes, and punysh their synnes. Israel turneth agayne into Egipte,⁽⁶⁾ they haue forgotten him that made them, they buylde churches,⁽⁷⁾ and Iuda maketh many stronge cities: therfore wil I sende a fyre into their cities, and it shal consume their places.

Notes to Chapter 8

⁽¹⁾ Deu. 31. d

⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. Re. 12. c

⁽³⁾ ⟨illegible⟩ze. 7. d

⁽⁴⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. Re. 12. d

⁽⁵⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. Re. ⟨illegible⟩7. a Eze. 16. b

⁽⁶⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁷⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

Chapter 9

DO not thou triumphe (O Israel) make [A] no boostinge more then the Heithen, for thou hast cōmitted aduo⟨illegible⟩try agaynst yᵉ God: straunge rewardes hast thou loued, more thē all corne floores.⁽¹⁾ Therfore shall they nomore enioye the cornefloores and wyne presses, and their swete wyne shal fayle thē. They wil not dwel in the LORDES londe,⁽²⁾ but Ephraim turneth agayne in to Egipte, & eateth vncleane thinges amonge the Assirians. They poure out no wyne for a drinkofferinge vnto the LORDE, nether geue they him their slayne offeringes: but they be vnto them as mourners meates, wherin all they that eate them, are defyled. For the bred that they haue soch lust vnto, shal not come in the house of the LORDE. What wil ye do then in the solempne dayes, and in the feast of the LORDE? lo, they shall get them awaye for the destruccion, Egypte shal receaue them, & Noph shal bury them.

The nettles shall ouergrowe their pleasaunt goodes, and burres shalbe in their tabernacles. Be ye sure (O Israel) the tyme of [B] visitacion is come, the dayes of recompencinge are at honde. As for the prophet, ye holde him for a foole: and him that is rich in the sprete, for a mad man: so greate is youre wickednes and malice. Ephraim hath made himself a watchman of my God, a prophet yᵗ is become a snare to do hurte in euery strete, and abhominacion in the house of his God. They be gone to farre,⁽³⁾ & haue destroied thē selues, like as they dyd afore tyme at Gabaa. Therfore their wickednes shal be remēbred, and their synnes punyshed.

I fande Israel like grapes in the wildernes, & sawe their fathers as the first fyges in yᵉ toppe of yᵉ fyge tre. But they are gone to Baal Peor,⁽⁴⁾ & runne awaie fro me to yⁱ shame full Idoll, & are become as abhominable as their louers Ephraim flieth like a byrde, so shal their glory also: In so moch, yᵗ they shal nether begette, cōceaue ner beare children.

[C] And though they bringe vp eny, yet will I make them childlesse amonge men. Yee wo shall come to them, when I departe from them. Ephraim (as me thinke) is planted in welthinesse,⁽⁵⁾ like as Tyrus, but now must she bringe hir owne children forth to the man slayer.

O LORDE thou shalt geue them: what shalt thou geue them? geue them an vnfrutefull wombe and drye brestes.⁽⁶⁾ All their wickednesse is done at Galgal, there do I abhorre them. For the vngraciousnes of their owne inuencions, I wil dryue them out of my house. I will loue them nomore, for all their prynces are vnfaithfull. Ephraim is hewen downe, their rote is dryed vp, so yᵗ they shal bringe nomore frute: yee and though they bringe forth eny, yet wil I slaye euen the best beloued frute of their body. My God shall cast them awaye, for they haue not bene obediēt vnto him, therfore shal they go astraye amonge the Heithen.

Notes to Chapter 9

⁽¹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽³⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁴⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁵⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁶⁾ ⟨illegible⟩ 4. d

Chapter 10

[A] ISrael was a goodly vyne, but he hath brought forth vnprofitable frute:⁽¹⁾ yee the more frute he had, the mo aulters he made: yᵉ more good I dyd to their londe, the more frendshipe shewed they to their ymages. Their herte is deuyded, therfore wil they be destroyed. The LORDE shall breake downe their ymages, he shal destroye their aulters. Then shal they saye: we haue no kinge, for why? we haue not feared the LORDE. And what shal then the kinge do to vs? They comon together, and sweare vayne oothes: they be cōfederate together, therfore groweth their punyshment, as the wedes in the forowes of the londe.

They that dwell in Samaria haue worshipped the calfe of Bethauē: therfore shall the people mourne ouer them, yee and the prestes also, that in their welthynesse reioysed with them: and why? it shal passe awaye [B] from them. It shalbe brought to the Assirian, for a present vnto kinge Iareb. Ephraim shal receaue full punishment: Israel shal be confounded for his owne ymaginacions, Samaria wᵗ his kinge shall vanish awaye, as the scomme vpon the water. The hye places of Auen where Israel do synne, shal be cast downe: thistles and thornes shal growe vpon their aulters. Then shal they saye to yᵉ mountaynes:⁽²⁾ couer vs, and to the hilles: fall vpon vs.

O Israel, thou hast synned as Gabaa dyd afore tyme,⁽³⁾ where they remayned: shulde not the batel then come vpon the wicked children, as wel as vpon the Gabaonites? I wil chasten them, euen after myne owne desyre, the people shal be gathered together ouer them, whē I punysh them for their greate wickednesse. Ephraim was vnto me, as a cow that is vsed to go to plowe, therfore I loued him, and fell vpon his fayre neck. I droue [C] Ephraim, Iuda plowed,⁽⁴⁾ & Iacob played the huszbōde man: that they might sowe vnto rightuousnes, and reape the frutes of weldoynge: yᵗ they might plowe vp their fresh londe, and seke the LORDE, till he came, and lerned them rightuousnes.

But now they haue plowed them wickednesse, therfore shal they reepe synne, and eate the frute of lyes. Seinge thou puttest thy cōfidence in thine owne wayes, and leanest to yᵉ multitude of thy worthies: there shal growe a sedicion amonge thy people. All yᵉ strōge cities shalbe layed waist,⁽⁵⁾ euen as Salmana was destroyed with his familiers, thorow him that was auenged of Baal, in the daye of batel, where yᵉ mother perished with hir childrē. Euen so shal it go with you (o Bethel) because of youre malicious wickednes. Like as the mornynge goeth awaye, so shal the kinge of Israel passe.

Notes to Chapter 10

⁽¹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽³⁾ ⟨illegible⟩ ⟨illegible⟩9. a

⁽⁴⁾ Matt. 11. ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁵⁾ Iud. 8. c

Chapter 11

WHen Israel was yōge, I loued him:[A] and called my sonne out of the londe of Egipte.⁽¹⁾ But yᵉ more they were called, the more they wente backe: offerynge vnto Idols, and censynge ymages.⁽²⁾ I lerned Ephraim to go, and bare them in myne armes, but they regarded not me, that wolde haue helped them. I led them with coardes of frendshipe, & with bondes of loue. I was euen he, that layed the yocke vpon their neckes. I gaue them their fodder myself,⁽³⁾ yᵗ they shulde not go agayne in to Egipte: And now is Assur their kinge: For they wolde not turne vnto me. Therfore shal yᵉ swearde begynne in their cities, the stoare that they haue lickened vnto, shall be destroyed and eaten vp: and that because of their owne ymaginacions. My people hath no lust to turne vnto [B] me, their prophetes laye the yocke vpon thē,⁽⁴⁾ but they ease them not of their burthen.

What greate thinges haue I geuen the, o Ephraim? how faithfully haue I defended the, o Israel?⁽⁵⁾ haue I dealt with the as with Adama? or haue I intreated the like Seboim? No, my hert is otherwise mynded. Yee my mercy is to feruent: therfore haue I not turned me to destroye Ephraim in my wrothful displeasure. For I am God and no man, I am euen that holy one in the myddest of the, though I came not within the cite.

The LORDE roareth like a lyon, that they maye folowe him:⁽⁶⁾ Yee as a lyon roareth he, that they maye be afrayed, like the children of the see: that they maye be scarred awaye from Egipte, as men scarre byrdes: & frayed awaye (as doues vse to be) from the Assiriās londe: and that because I wolde haue them tary at home, saieth the LORDE. But Ephraim goeth aboute me with lies, and the house of Israel dyssembleth. Only Iuda holdeth him with God, and with the true holy thinges.

Notes to Chapter 11

⁽¹⁾ Exo. 3. b 6. b Matt. 2. c

⁽²⁾ Exo. 32. b 3. Re. 12. e 4. Re. 16. ⟨illegible⟩

⁽³⁾ Exo. 16. c

⁽⁴⁾ Esa. 10. a 28. b Matt. 2⟨illegible⟩. Luc. 11. d

⁽⁵⁾ Gen. 19. e Deu. 29. d

⁽⁶⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. 5. a

Chapter 12

[A] EPhraim kepeth the ayre, and foloweth after the east wynde: he is euer increasinge lyes & destruction. They be confederate with the Assirians, their oyle is caried in to Egipte.⁽¹⁾ The LORDE hath a courte to holde with Iuda, and wil punysh Iacob: After their owne waies and acordinge to their owne inuencions, shal he recompence them. He toke his brother by the hele, when he was yet in his mothers wombe:⁽²⁾ and in his strength he wrestled with God. He stroue with the Angel, and gat the victory: so that he prayde and desyred him. He fande him at Bethel, & there he talked wᵗ vs.

Yee the LORDE God of hoostes, euen yᵉ LORDE him self remembred him: Then turne to thy God, kepe mercy and equyte, and hope still in thy God. But the marchaunt [B] hath a false weight in his honde, he hath a pleasure to occupie extorcion.⁽³⁾ Ephraim thinketh thus: Tush, I am rich, I haue good ynough: In all my workes shal not one fawte be founde, that I haue offended. Yet am I the LORDE thy God, euē as when I brought the out of the londe of Egipte, and set the in thy tentes, and as in the hye feast dayes.

I haue spokē thorow the prophetes, and shewed dyuerse visions, and declared my self by the ministracion of yᵉ prophetes. But at Galaad is the abhominacion, they are fallen to vanyte. At Galgal they haue slayne oxen:⁽⁴⁾ and as many heapes of stones as they had in their lōde forowes, so many aulters haue they made. Iacob fled into the londe of Siria, and Israel serued for a wife, and for a wife he kepte shepe.⁽⁵⁾

By a prophet the LORDE brought them out of Egipte, and by a prophet he preserued thē. But Ephraim hath prouoked him to displeasure thorow his abhominacions: therfore shal his bloude be poured vpon him self, and the LORDE his God shal rewarde him his blasphemies.

Notes to Chapter 12

⁽¹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. Re. 16 b ⟨illegible⟩a. 57. b

⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩en. 25 a ⟨illegible⟩en. 32. d ⟨illegible⟩en. 35. b

⁽³⁾ ⟨illegible⟩po. 3. c

⁽⁴⁾ Deu. 12. a ⟨illegible⟩4. b

⁽⁵⁾ Gen. 28. a

Chapter 13

THe abhominacion of Ephraim is come [A] also in to Israel. He is gone backe to Baal, therfore must he dye.⁽¹⁾ And now they synne more and more: of their syluer, they make them molten ymages, like the Idols of the Heithen, and yet all is nothinge but the worke of the craftesman. Not withstōdinge they preach of the same: who so wil kysse the calues, offreth to men. Therfore they shalbe as the mornynge cloude, and as the dew that early passeth awaye: and like as dust that yᵉ wynde taketh awaye from the floore, and as smoke that goeth out of yᵉ chymney.

I am the LORDE thy God,⁽²⁾ which brought the out of the londe of Egipte: that thou shuldest knowe no God but me only, & that thou shuldest haue no Sauioure but only me.⁽³⁾ I toke diligent hede of the in the wildernesse that drye londe. But when they were wel fedde and had ynough, they waxed proude,[B] and forgat me.⁽⁴⁾ Therfore will I be vnto them as a lyon, and as a leoparde in yᵉ waye to the Assirians. I wil come vpon them as a she beer, that is robbed of hir welpes, and I wil breake that stubburne herte of theirs. There wil I deuoure them as a lyon: yee the wylde beastes shal teare them.

O Israel, thou doest but destroye thy self,⁽⁵⁾ In me only is thy helpe. Where are thy kinges now, that shulde helpe the in all thy cities? Yee and thy iudges, of whom thou saydest: geue me a kinge and prynces? well,⁽⁶⁾ I gaue the a kinge in my wrath, and in my displeasure will I take him from the agayne. The wickednesse of Ephraim is bounde together, & his synne lieth hyd. Therfore shall [C] sorowes come vpon him, as vpon a woman that traualeth. An vndiscrete sonne is he: for he considreth not, that he shulde not haue bene able to haue endured in the tyme of his byrth, had not I defended him from the graue, and delyuered him from death.

O death, I wil be thy death: o hell,⁽⁷⁾ I wil be thy stynge. Yet can I se no comforth, for when he is now the goodliest amonge the brethren, the east wynde (euen the wynde of the LORDE) shal come downe from the wildernesse, and drye vp his condytes, and drynke vp his welles: he shal spoyle the treasure of all pleasaunt vessels.

As for Samaria, they shalbe made waist,⁽⁸⁾ & why? they are disobedient vnto their God. They shal perish with the swearde, their children shalbe slayne, and their women bygg with childe shalbe rypte vp.

Notes to Chapter 13

⁽¹⁾ Esa. ⟨illegible⟩ Eze▪ ⟨illegible⟩ Osee ⟨illegible⟩ Osee ⟨illegible⟩

⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽³⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁴⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁵⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁶⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁷⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽⁸⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

Chapter 14

[A] TVrne the now (o Israel) vnto yᵉ LORDE thy God,⁽¹⁾ for thou hast taken a greate fall thorow thy wickednesse. Take these wordes with you, when ye turne to the LORDE, & saye vnto him: O forgeue vs all oure synnes, receaue vs graciously, & then wil we offre yᵉ bullockes of oure lyppes vnto the.⁽²⁾ Assur shalbe no more oure helper, nether will we ryde vpon horses eny more. As for the workes of oure hondes, we wil nomore call vpon them: For it is thou that art oure God, thou shewest euer mercy vnto the fatherlesse.

O (yf they wolde do this) I shulde heale their sores: yee with all my herte wolde I loue them: so yᵗ my wrath shulde clene be turned awaye from them. Yee I wolde be vnto Israel as the dewe, and he shulde growe as yᵉ lylie, & his rote shulde breake out as Libanus. [B] His braunches shulde sprede out abrode, & be as fayre as the olyue tre, & smel as Libanus. They that dwel vnder his shadowe, shulde come agayne, & growe vp as the corne, & florish as the vyne: he shulde haue as good a name, as the wyne of Libanus.

O Ephraim, what haue I to do with Idols eny more I wil graciously heare him, & lede him forth. I wil be vnto the as a grene Fyrre tre, vpon me shalt thou fynde thy frute. Who so is wyse, shal vnderstonde this: & he yᵗ is right enstructe, wil regarde it. For yᵉ wayes of the LORDE are rightuous, soch as be godly wil walke in them: As for the wicked, they wil stomble therin.

Notes to Chapter 14

⁽¹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩

⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. 13. c ⟨illegible⟩sal 91. a

The ende of the prophet Oseas.

Colophon

This page is an archival transcription of the printed text, not a Good Works Translation. Source: Biblia the Byble, that is, the holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully translated in to Englyshe (M.D.XXXV; STC 2063.3), translated by Myles Coverdale, the copy in Cambridge University Library, keyed and encoded by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP Phase I, text A10349, 2005) and released under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 public-domain dedication.

1 place illegible in the Cambridge copy was filled from Samuel Bagster’s 1838 page-for-page reprint of the edition (archive.org, holyscriptures00cove), only where the reprint’s reading is certain; each fill is listed on this room’s Supplied Readings page; 76 places are still marked ⟨illegible⟩ (4 in the text, 72 in the marginal notes).

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