Hosea 10:12

Justice Repentance God's love Hope

¹⁰ It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.

¹¹ And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

¹³ Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

¹⁴ Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.
KJV: Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
WEB: Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and rains righteousness on you.
ASV: Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
DARBY: Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
BLB: Sow for yourselves unto righteousness, [and] reap to the mouth of loving devotion; break up for yourself the fallow ground, for [it is] time to seek YHWH, until He should come and shower righteousness upon you⁺.

ÅB: Så dere en sæd, som rettferdigheten krever, få dere en høst etter kjærlighetens bud, bryt dere nytt land! For nå er det tiden til å søke Herren, til han kommer og lar rettferdighet regne over dere.
OTB: Så for dere selv i rettferdighet,
Høst i samsvar med godhet;
Bryt opp deres udyrkede mark,
For det er tid til å søke Herren
Inntil Han kommer og lar rettferdighet regne over dere.
B1930: Så eder en sæd, som rettferdigheten krever, få eder en høst efter kjærlighetens bud, bryt eder nytt land! For nu er det tiden til å søke Herren, til han kommer og lar rettferdighet regne over eder.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 4:3–4
For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
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James 3:18
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
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Isaiah 45:8
Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
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Proverbs 11:18
The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
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Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Read in context
Hosea 6:3
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
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Jeremiah 29:12–14
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
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Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Read in context