Verbum Domini, quod factum est ad Osee, filium Beeri, in diebus Oziæ, Joathan, Achaz, Ezechiæ, regum Juda; et in diebus Jeroboam, filii Joas, regis Israël.

The word of the Lord, that came to Osee the son of Beeri, in the days of Ozias, Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias kings of Juda, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joas king of Israel.

This is the message which came from the Lord to Osee, son of Beeri, during the reigns of Ozias, Joathan, Achaz and Ezechias in Juda, and during the reign of Jeroboam, son of Joas, in Israel.

Principium loquendi Domino in Osee. Et dixit Dominus ad Osee: Vade, sume tibi uxorem fornicationum, et fac tibi filios fornicationum, quia fornicans fornicabitur terra a Domino.

The beginning of the Lord’s speaking by Osee: and the Lord said to Osee: Go, take thee a wife of fornications, and have of her children of fornications: for the land by fornication shall depart from the Lord.

When first the divine voice made itself heard through Osee, this was the command given him: Wanton wed thou, wantons breed thou; in a wanton land thou dwellest, that keeps troth with its Lord never.

Et abiit, et accepit Gomer, filiam Debelaim: et concepit, et peperit ei filium.

So he went, and took Gomer the daughter of Debelaim: and she conceived and bore him a son.

So it was he came to marry Gomer, a daughter of Debelaim. When he got her with child, and she bore him a son,

Et dixit Dominus ad eum: Voca nomen ejus Jezrahel, quoniam adhuc modicum, et visitabo sanguinem Jezrahel super domum Jehu, et quiescere faciam regnum domus Israël.

And the Lord said to him: Call his name Jezrahel: for yet a little while, and I will visit the blood of Jezrahel upon the house of Jehu, and I will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

This one, the Lord told him, thou art to call Jezrahel; at Jezrahel the blood was spilt for which, ere long, Jehu’s line must be punished, and Israel have kings no more;

Et in illa die conteram arcum Israël in valle Jezrahel.

And in that day I will break in pieces the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezrahel.

in Jezrahel valley, my doom is, bow of Israel shall be broken.

Et concepit adhuc, et peperit filiam. Et dixit ei: Voca nomen ejus, Absque misericordia, quia non addam ultra misereri domui Israël, sed oblivione obliviscar eorum.

And she conceived again, and bore a daughter, and he said to him: Call her name, Without mercy: for I will not add any more to have mercy on the house of Israel, but I will utterly forget them.

And next, she was brought to bed of a daughter; of whom the Lord said, Unbefriended call her, in token that I will befriend Israel no longer, heed them no longer.

Et domui Juda miserebor, et salvabo eos in Domino Deo suo; et non salvabo eos in arcu et gladio, et in bello, et in equis, et in equitibus.

And I will have mercy on the house of Juda, and I will save them by the Lord their God: and I will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, nor by horses, nor by horsemen.

To Juda I will be a friend yet, not with bow or sword of theirs delivering them, not in battle, with horse or horseman to give aid, but by the power of the Lord their God only.

Et ablactavit eam quæ erat Absque misericordia. Et concepit, et peperit filium.

And she weaned her that was called Without mercy. And she conceived, and bore a son.

Unbefriended, then, was the name of her; and after she was weaned, once more Gomer conceived, and had a son.

Et dixit: Voca nomen ejus, Non populus meus, quia vos non populus meus, et ego non ero vester.

And he said: Call his name, Not my people: for you are not my people, and I will not be yours.

This time the command was, Call him Strange-folk; no longer shall you be my people, or I be your … …

Et erit numerus filiorum Israël quasi arena maris, quæ sine mensura est, et non numerabitur. Et erit in loco ubi dicetur eis: Non populus meus vos: dicetur eis: Filii Dei viventis.

And the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, that is without measure, and shall not be numbered. And it shall be in the place where it shall be said to them: You are not my people: it shall be said to them: Ye are the sons of the living God.

Measureless the race of Israel shall be and countless as the sand by the sea-shore. In the very place where once the doom was uttered, You are but strangers to me, they shall be welcomed as sons of the living God.

Et congregabuntur filii Juda et filii Israël pariter; et ponent sibimet caput unum, et ascendent de terra, quia magnus dies Jezrahel.

And the children of Juda, and the children of Israel shall be gathered together: and they shall appoint themselves one head, and shall come up out of the land: for great is the day of Jezrahel.

As one people, Juda and Israel shall be rallied, under a leader of their common choice; and they shall come flocking from every corner of the land; such great doings there shall be at Jezrahel.