Genesis 21:13-21, Hosea 7:1-8:14, Psalm 136:1-5
Genesis 21:13 -21
I will also make a nation of the son of the servant, because he is your child.” 14 Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. 15 The water in the container was spent, and she put the child under one of the shrubs. 16 She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of the child.” She sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. 17 Hashem heard the voice of the boy.
The angel of Hashem called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For Hashem has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”
19 Hashem opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink.
20 Hashem was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and as he grew up, he became an archer. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother got a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.
Hosea 7:1
When I would heal Israel,
then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered,
also the wickedness of Samaria;
for they commit falsehood,
and the thief enters in,
and the gang of robbers ravages outside.
2 They don’t consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness.
Now their own deeds have engulfed them.
They are before My face.
3 They make the king glad with their wickedness,
and the princes with their lies.
4 They are all adulterers.
They are burning like an oven that the baker stops stirring,
from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened.
5 On the day of our king, the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine.
He joined his hand with mockers.
6 For they have prepared their heart like an oven,
while they lie in wait.
Their anger smolders all night.
In the morning it burns as a flaming fire.
7 They are all hot as an oven,
and devour their judges.
All their kings have fallen.
There is no one among them who calls to Me.
8 Ephraim mixes himself among the nations.
Ephraim is a pancake not turned over.
9 Strangers have devoured his strength,
and he doesn’t realize it.
Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him,
and he doesn’t realize it.
10 The pride of Israel testifies to his face;
yet they haven’t returned to Hashem their Elohim,
nor sought Him, for all this.
11 “Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding.
They call to Egypt.
They go to Assyria.
12 When they go, I will spread My net on them.
I will bring them down like the birds of the sky.
I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard.
13 Woe to them!
For they have wandered from Me.
Destruction to them!
For they have trespassed against Me.
Though I would redeem them,
yet they have spoken lies against Me.
14 They haven’t cried to Me with their heart,
but they howl on their beds.
They assemble themselves for grain and new wine.
They turn away from Me.
15 Though I have taught and strengthened their arms,
yet they plot evil against Me.
16 They return, but not to the Most High.
They are like a faulty bow.
Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue.
This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.
8 “Put the trumpet to your lips!
Something like an eagle is over Hashem’s house,
because they have broken My covenant
and rebelled against My law.
2 They cry to Me, ‘My Elohim, we, Israel, acknowledge you!’
3 Israel has cast off that which is good.
The enemy will pursue him.
4 They have set up kings, but not by Me.
They have made princes, and I didn’t approve.
Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols,
that they may be cut off.
5 Let Samaria throw out his calf idol!
My anger burns against them!
How long will it be until they are capable of purity?
6 For this is even from Israel!
The workman made it, and it is no Elohim;
indeed, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
7 For they sow the wind,
and they will reap the whirlwind.
He has no standing grain.
The stalk will yield no head.
If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up.
8 Israel is swallowed up.
Now they are among the nations like a worthless thing.
9 For they have gone up to Assyria,
like a wild donkey wandering alone.
Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.
10 But although they sold themselves among the nations,
I will now gather them;
and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones.
11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning,
they became for him altars for sinning.
12 I wrote for him the many things of My law,
but they were regarded as a strange thing.
13 As for the sacrifices of My offerings,
they sacrifice meat and eat it,
but Hashem doesn’t accept them.
Now He will remember their iniquity,
and punish their sins.
They will return to Egypt.
14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces;
and Judah has multiplied fortified cities;
but I will send a fire on his cities,
and it will devour its fortresses.”
Psalm 136:1-5
Give thanks to Hashem, for He is good,
for His loving kindness endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the Elohim of gods,
for His loving kindness endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Hashem of lords,
for His loving kindness endures forever;
4 to Him who alone does great wonders,
for His loving kindness endures forever;
5 to Him who by understanding made the heavens,
for His loving kindness endures forever.
