New Century Version

Hosea 2:8-18 New Century Version (NCV)

8. But she does not know that I was the onewho gave her grain, new wine, and oil.I gave her much silver and gold,but she used it for Baal.

9. “So I will come back and take away my grain at harvest timeand my new wine when it is ready.I will take back my wool and linenthat covered her nakedness.

10. So I will show her nakedness to her lovers,and no one will save her from me.

11. I will put an end to all her celebrations:her yearly festivals, her New Moon festivals, and her Sabbaths.I will stop all of her special feasts.

12. I will destroy her vines and fig trees,which she said were her pay from her lovers.I will turn them into a forest,and wild animals will eat them.

13. I will punish her for all the timesshe burned incense to the Baals.She put on her rings and jewelryand went chasing after her lovers,but she forgot me!”says the Lord.

14. “So I am going to attract her;I will lead her into the desertand speak tenderly to her.

15. There I will give her back her vineyards,and I will make the Valley of Trouble a door of hope.There she will respond as when she was young,as when she came out of Egypt.”

16. The Lord says, “In the future she will call me ‘my husband;’no longer will she call me ‘my baal.’

17. I will never let her say the names of Baal again;people won’t use their names anymore.

18. At that time I will make an agreement for themwith the wild animals, the birds, and the crawling things.I will smash from the landthe bow and the sword and the weapons of war,so my people will live in safety.