America Inpenitentialis

The Holy Prophet Hosea

Amici, Americani, Compatriotae,

Today's Old Testament Scripture reading is from Hosea 6:1-6. As usual, this selection is taken out of context where the rest of the chapter that provides key information is missing. The reading emphasizes God's call to repentance and forgiveness, but it does not go on to state what Israel's and Judah's reply to that call is. And their reply is precisely the reply of modern day America. Since God does not change in His holiness, righteousness and justice, His response in turn will be the same today as it was back then some 2700 years ago. Yet He remains a God of mercy as verse 11 describes - a mercy we clearly do not merit.

ENGLISH

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord;
for he has torn, that he may heal us;
he has stricken, and he will bind us up.
2 After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
3 Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;
his going forth is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.”
Impenitence of Israel and Judah

4 What shall I do with you, O E′phraim?
What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes early away.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have slain them by the words of my mouth,
and my judgment goes forth as the light.
6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings.

7 But at Adam they transgressed the covenant;
there they dealt faithlessly with me.
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,
tracked with blood.
9 As robbers lie in wait for a man,
so the priests are banded together;
they murder on the way to Shechem,
yea, they commit villainy.
10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;
E′phraim’s harlotry is there, Israel is defiled.

11 For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.
When I would restore the fortunes of my people.

LATIN

1 “Venite, et revertamur ad Do minum,
quia ipse laceravit et sanabit nos,
percussit et curabit nos.
2 Vivificabit nos post duos dies,
in die tertia suscitabit nos,
et vivemus in conspectu eius.
3 Sciamus sequamurque,
ut cognoscamus Dominum.
Quasi diluculum praeparatus est egressus eius,
et veniet quasi imber nobis temporaneus,
quasi imber serotinus irrigans terram”.
4 Quid faciam tibi, Ephraim?
Quid faciam tibi, Iuda?
Caritas vestra quasi nubes matutina
et quasi ros mane pertransiens.
5 Propter hoc dolavi per prophetas,
occidi eos in verbis oris mei,
sed ius meum quasi lux egredietur;
6 quia caritatem volo et non sacrificium,
et scientiam Dei plus quam holocausta.
7 Ipsi autem in Adam transgressi sunt pactum;
ibi praevaricati sunt in me.
8 Galaad civitas operantium iniquitatem
maculata sanguine.
9 Et quasi insidiantes virum latrones
caterva sacerdotum;
in via interficiunt pergentes Sichem,
vere scelus operantur.
10 In domo Israel vidi horrendum:
ibi fornicationes Ephraim,
contaminatus est Israel.
11 Sed et tibi, Iuda, parata est messis,
cum convertero sortem populi mei.