Hosea 9:10-12

New International Reader's Version

“When I first found Israel,
    it was like finding grapes in the desert.
When I saw your people of long ago,
    it was like seeing the early fruit on a fig tree.
But then they went to Baal Peor.
    There they gave themselves to that shameful god named Baal.
    They became as evil as the god they loved.
¹¹ Ephraim’s greatness and glory will be gone.
    It will fly away like a bird.
Women will no longer have children.
    They will not be able to get pregnant.
¹² But suppose they do have children.
    Then I will kill every one of them.
How terrible it will be for them
    when I turn away from them!