A   First, when the LORDE spake vnto Oseas, he saide vnto him: ^note Go thy waye, take an harlot to thy wife, and get childr&ebar; by her: for the l&obar;de hath c&obar;mitted greate whordome agaynst the LORDE. So he wente, and toke Gomer þe; doughter of Deblaim: which conceaued, and brought forth a sonne. And the LORDE sayde vnto him: ^note 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, ^note but forget them, and put them clene out of remembraunce. ^noteNeuerthelesse 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. ^noteAnd though the nombre of the children of Israel be as the sonde of the see, 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 þe; childr&ebar; of the lyuynge God. ^noteThen shal the children of Iuda and the childr&ebar; of Israel be gathered together agayne, ∧ chose them selues one heade, and then departe out of the londe: for greate shalbe the daye of Iesrael. The II. Chapter.

A   Tell youre brethren, that they are my people: and youre sisteren, that they haue optayned mercy. As for youre mother, ye shal chyde with her, and reproue her: ^note for she is not my wife, nether am I hir hu&esset;b&obar;de: 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 þe; worlde: ^note 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, ^note for they be the children of fornicacion.

Their mother hath broken hir wedlocke, and she that bare them, is come to c&obar;fucion. ^note 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: ^note she shal seke them, but not fynde them. Then shal she saye: well, I will go turne agayne to my first hu&esset;bonde, for at þt; tyme was I better at ease, then now: B   But this wolde she not knowe, where as I yet gaue her corne, wyne, oyle, syluer and golde, which she hath hanged vpon Baal.

^noteWherfore now will I go take my corne ∧ wyne agayne in their season, and fet agayne my woll and my flax, which I gaue her, to couer hir shame. ^noteAnd now will I dyscouer hir foolishnesse, euen in the sight of hir louers, and no man shal delyuer her out of my hondes. ^noteMorouer, I wil take awaye all hir myrth, hir holy dayes, hir newmoones, 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, ^note 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, ^note 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. ^note C   Then (saieth the LORDE) she shal saye vnto me: O my hou&esset;bande, ∧ 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. ^noteThen will I make a couenaunt with them, with the wylde beastes, with the foules of the ayre, ∧ with euerythinge that crepeth vpon the earth.

^noteAs for bowe, swerde and batel, I will destroye soch out of the londe, ∧ wil make them to slepe safely. ^noteThus 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 þe; 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 vp&obar; earth, for a sede to myne owne self, ∧ wil haue mercy vpon her, þt; was without mercy. And to th&ebar; which were not my people, I wil saye: thou art my people. ^noteAnd he shal saye: thou art my God. The III. Chapter.

A    ^noteThen sayde þe; LORDE to me: Go yet þi; waye ∧ wowe an aduouterous wom&abar;, wh&obar; thy neghboure loueth, as þe; LORDE doth the childr&ebar; of Israel: how be it they haue respecte to straunge goddes, and loue the wyne kannes. ^noteSo I gat her for xv. syluerlinges, and for an Homer and an half of barlye, ∧ sayde vnto her: Thou shalt byde with me a longe 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    ^noteThus the childr&ebar; of Israel shal syt a greate whyle without kinge and prynce, without offerynge and aulter, without prest and reuelacion. But afterwarde shal the children of Israel conuerte, and seke the LORDE their God, and Dauid their kinge: ^note and in þe; latter dayes they shal worshipe the LORDE, and his louynge kyndnesse. The IIII. Chapter.

A   Heare þe; worde of the LORDE, o ye children of Israel: For the LORDE must punysh th&ebar;, þt; dwel in the londe. And why? There is no faithfulnesse, there is no mercy, there is no knowlege of God in the l&obar;de: but swearinge, ly&ebar;ge, m&abar;slaughter, theft and aduoutry haue gotten the ouerhande, ∧ one bloudgiltynesse 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 þe; ayre, and the fishes in the see shall dye. Yet is there none, that wil chast&ebar; nor reproue another. The prestes which shulde refourme other m&ebar;, are become like the people.

B    ^noteTherfore stomblest thou in þe; daye tyme ∧, the prophet with the in the night. I wil bringe thy mother to sylence, ∧ why? my people perish, because they haue no knowlege. Seinge then that thou hast refused vnderstondinge, therfore wil I refuse þe; also: so that thou shalt nomore be my prest. And for so moch as thou hast forgotten the lawe of thy God, I wil also forget thy childr&ebar;. The more they increased in multitude, the more they synned agaynst me, therfore wil I chaurge their honoure in to shame. ^noteThey eate vp the synnes of my people, ∧ corage them in their wickednesse. ^noteThus the prest is become like the people. ^noteWherfore 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. ^noteMy people axe councel at their stockes, their staffe must tell them. For an whorish mynde hath disceaued them, so þt; they c&obar;mitte fornicacion agaynst their God. ^noteThey make sacrifice vpon the hie mountaynes, ∧ burne their incense vpon the hilles, yee amonge the okes, groues ∧ bu&esset;shes, for there are good shadowes. C   Therfore yo&highr; doughters are become harlottes, and youre spouses haue brok&ebar; their wedlocke I wil not punish yo&highr; doughters for beinge defyled, ∧ yo&highr; brydes that became whores: ^note 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 þe; harlot, yet shuldest not thou haue offended, o Iuda: ^note thou shuldest not haue runne to Galgala, ner haue gone vp to Bethau&ebar;, ner haue sworne: the LORDE lyueth. For Israel is gone backe, like a w&abar;ton cowe. The LORDE therfore shal make hir fede, as þe; l&abar;be þt; goeth astraye. And where as Ephraim is become partaker of Idols, wel, let him go. Their dronck&ebar;nesse hath put th&ebar; 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 shall be c&obar;founded in their offeringes.

The V. Chapter.

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. ^noteI 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 þt; they can not knowe the LORDE.

^noteBut 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. ^noteThey shall come with their shepe ∧ bullockes to seke þe; LORDE, ^note 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 þe; plage shal Ephraim be layed waist, therfore dyd I faithfully warne the trybes of Israel. ^noteYet 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 þe; doctrynes of men. Therfore will I be vnto Ephraim as a moth, ∧ to the house of Iuda as a caterpiller.

^noteWhen 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. The VI. Chapter.

A    ^noteIn their aduersite they shall seke me, and saye: come, let vs turne agayne to the LORDE: for he hath smytten vs, and he shal heale vs: He hath wounded vs, ∧ he shal bynde vs vp agayne: after two dayes shal he 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. ^note

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 þt; goeth early awaye. B   Therfore haue I cut 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: ^note Yee in the knowlege of God, more then in burntsacrifice. ^noteBut euen like as Adam dyd, 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 ∧ bloudthurstie: for they haue wrought abhominacion. ^noteHorrible 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. The VII. Chapter.

A   When I vndertake to make Israel 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 c&obar;sidre not in their hertes, that I rem&ebar;bre all their wickednes. They go aboute &wt; their owne ynuenci&obar;s, 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 þt; the baker heateth, wh&ebar; 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 the. B   They with the ymaginacion of their herte are like an ou&ebar;, their slepe is all þe; night 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 fall&ebar;: yet is there none of th&ebar; þt; calleth vpon me. Therfore must Ephraim be mixte amonge þe; Heithen. Ephraim is become like a cake, þt; 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: ∧ þe; pride of Israel is cast downe before their face, ^note 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. ^note C   Now call they vpon the 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 þe; foules of the ayre: and acordinge as they haue bene warned, so will I punysh them. ^noteWo be vnto them, for they haue forsak&ebar; me. They must be destroyed, for they haue set me at naught. ^noteI 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. The VIII. Chapter.

A    ^noteSet the horne to thy mouth, and blowe: get the swiftly (as an Aegle) vnto the house of the LORDE: for they haue broken my couenannt, 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. ^noteThey haue ordened kinges, but not thorow me: they haue made prynces, and I must not knowe of it. ^noteOf their syluer and golde haue they made them ymages, to bringe them selues to destruccion.

^noteThy 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 þe; 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 þe;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.

^noteEphraim geueth rewardes to get louers, therfore are they scatred am&obar;ge the Heith&ebar;, 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 th&ebar; 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. ^noteIsrael turneth agayne in to Egipte, they haue forgotten him that made them, they buylde churches, and Iuda maketh many stronge cities: ^note therfore wil I sende a fyre in to their cities, and it shal consume their places. The IX. Chapter.

A   Do not thou triumphe (O Israel) make no boostinge more then the Heithen, for thou hast c&obar;mitted aduoutry agaynst þi; God: straunge rewardes hast thou loued, more th&ebar; all corne floores. ^noteTherfore shall they nomore enioye the cornefloores and wyne presses, and their swete wyne shal fayle th&ebar;. They wil not dwel in the LORDES londe, ^note 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. B   Be ye sure (O Israel) the tyme of 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 þt; is become a snare to do hurte in euery strete, and abhominacion in the house of his God. ^noteThey be gone to farre, ∧ haue destroied th&ebar; selues, like as they dyd afore tyme at Gabaa. Therfore their wickednes shal be rem&ebar;bred, and their synnes punyshed.

I fande Israel like grapes in the wildernes, ∧ sawe their fathers as the first fyges in þe; toppe of þe; fyge tre. ^noteBut they are gone to Baal Peor, ∧ runne awaie fro me to þt; shamefull Idoll, ∧ are become as abhominable as their louers Ephraim flieth like a byrde, so shal their glory also: In so moch, þt; they shal nether begette, c&obar;ceaue 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. ^noteEphraim (as me thinke) is planted in welthinesse, like as Tyrus, but now must she bringe hir owne children forth to the manslayer.

O LORDE thou shalt geue them: what shalt thou geue them? geue them an vnfrutefull wombe and drye brestes. ^noteAll 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 þt; 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 obedi&ebar;t vnto him, therfore shal they go astraye amonge the Heithen. The X. Chapter.

A    ^noteIsrael was a goodly vyne, but he hath brought forth vnprofitable frute: yee the more frute he had, the mo aulters he made: þe; 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 c&obar;federate together, therfore groweth their punyshment, as the wedes in the forowes of the londe.

They that dwell in Samaria haue worshipped the calfe of Bethau&ebar;: 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 from them. B   It shalbe brought to the Assirian, for a present vnto kinge Iareb. Ephraim shal receaue full punishment: Israel shalbe 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 þe; mountaynes: couer vs, and to the hilles: fall vpon vs. ^note

^noteO Israel, thou hast synned as Gabaa dyd afore tyme, 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, wh&ebar; 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. ^note C   I droue Ephraim, Iuda plowed, ∧ Iacob played the hu&esset;b&obar;de man: that they might sowe vnto rightuousnes, and reape the frutes of weldoynge: þt; 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 c&obar;fidence in thine owne wayes, and leanest to þe; multitude of thy worthies: there shal growe a sedicion amonge thy people. All þi; str&obar;ge cities shalbe layed waist, ^note euen as Salmana was destroyed with his familiers, thorow him that was auenged of Baal, in the daye of batel, where þe; mother perished with hir childr&ebar;. 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. The XI. Chapter.

A    ^noteWhen Israel was y&obar;ge, I loued him: and called my sonne out of the londe of Egipte. But þe; more they were called, the more they wente backe: offerynge vnto Idols, and censynge ymages. ^noteI 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. ^noteI gaue them their fodder my self, þt; they shulde not go agayne in to Egipte: And now is Assur their kinge: For they wolde not turne vnto me. Therfore shal þe; 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. ^note B   My people hath no lust to turne vnto me, their prophetes laye the yocke vpon th&ebar;, but they ease them not of their burthen.

^noteWhat greate thinges haue I geuen the, o Ephraim? how faithfully haue I defended the, o Israel? 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: ^note 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 Assiri&abar;s 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. The XII. Chapter.

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. ^noteThe 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: and in his strength he wrestled with God. ^note 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 þe; LORDE him self remembred him: Then turne to thy God, kepe mercy and equyte, and hope still in thy God. But the marchaunt hath a false weight in his honde, he hath a pleasure to occupie extorcion. ^note B   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, eu&ebar; 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 spok&ebar; thorow the prophetes, and shewed dyuerse visions, and declared my self by the ministracion of þe; prophetes. But at Galaad is the abhominacion, they are fallen to vanyte. At Galgal they haue slayne oxen: ^note and as many heapes of stones as they had in their l&obar;de forowes, so many aulters haue they made. ^noteIacob fled into the londe of Siria, and Israel serued for a wife, and for a wife he kepte shepe.

By a prophet the LORDE brought them out of Egipte, and by a prophet he preserued th&ebar;. 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. The XIII. Chapter.

A    ^noteThe abhominacion of Ephraim is come also in to Israel. He is gone backe to Baal, therfore must he dye. 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. Notwithst&obar;dinge 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 þe; wynde taketh awaye from the floore, and as smoke that goeth out of þe; chymney.

^noteI am the LORDE thy God, 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. ^noteI toke diligent hede of the in the wildernesse that drye londe. B   But when they were wel fedde and had ynough, they waxed proude, and forgat me. Therfore will I be vnto them as a lyon, and as a leoparde in þe; 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.

^noteO Israel, thou doest but destroyeth thyself, 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? ^note well, 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. C   Therfore shall 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.

^noteO death, I wil be thy death: o hell, 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.

^noteAs for Samaria, they shalbe made waist, ∧ 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.

The XIIII. Chapter.

A    ^noteTvrne the now (o Israel) vnto þe; LORDE thy God, 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 þe; bullockes of oure lyppes vnto the. ^noteAssur 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 þt; my wrath shulde clene be turned awaye from them. Yee I wolde be vnto Israel as the dewe, and he shulde growe as þe; 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 þt; is right enstructe, wil regarde it. For þe; wayes of the LORDE are rightuous, soch as be godly wil walke in them: As for the wicked, they wil stomble therin. The ende of the prophet Oseas.

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