Hosea 4

Chapter 4

The LORD’s Case against Israel

1 Hear the word of the LORD, O people of Israel!
The LORD has brought charges against you, saying:
“There is no faithfulness, no kindness,
no knowledge of God in your land.2 You make vows and break them;
you kill and steal and commit adultery.
There is violence everywhere—
one murder after another.3 That is why your land is in mourning,
and everyone is wasting away.
Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky,
and the fish of the sea are disappearing.4 “Don’t point your finger at someone else
and try to pass the blame!
My complaint, you priests,
is with you.t5 So you will stumble in broad daylight,
and your false prophets will fall with you in the night.
And I will destroy Israel, your mother.6 My people are being destroyed
because they don’t know me.
Since you priests refuse to know me,
I refuse to recognize you as my priests.
Since you have forgotten the laws of your God,
I will forget to bless your children.7 The more priests there are,
the more they sin against me.
They have exchanged the glory of God
for the shame of idols.t8 “When the people bring their sin offerings, the priests get fed.
So the priests are glad when the people sin!9 ‘And what the priests do, the people also do.’
So now I will punish both priests and people
for their wicked deeds.10 They will eat and still be hungry.
They will play the prostitute and gain nothing from it,
for they have deserted the LORD11 to worship other gods.
“Wine has robbed my people
of their understanding.12 They ask a piece of wood for advice!
They think a stick can tell them the future!
Longing after idols
has made them foolish.
They have played the prostitute,
serving other gods and deserting their God.13 They offer sacrifices to idols on the mountaintops.
They go up into the hills to burn incense
in the pleasant shade of oaks, poplars, and terebinth trees.
“That is why your daughters turn to prostitution,
and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.14 But why should I punish them
for their prostitution and adultery?
For your men are doing the same thing,
sinning with whores and shrine prostitutes.
O foolish people! You refuse to understand,
so you will be destroyed.15 “Though you, Israel, are a prostitute,
may Judah avoid such guilt.
Do not join the false worship at Gilgal or Beth-aven,t
even though they take oaths there in the LORD’s name.16 Israel is stubborn,
like a stubborn heifer.
So should the LORD feed her
like a lamb in a lush pasture?17 Leave Israelt alone,
because she is married to idolatry.18 When the rulers of Israel finish their drinking,
off they go to find some prostitutes.
They love shame more than honor.t19 So a mighty wind will sweep them away.
Their sacrifices to idols will bring them shame.

HOSEA 4

Israel Is Unfaithful

1 Israel, listen
as the [Lord] accuses
everyone in the land!
No one is faithful or loyal
or truly cares about God.

2 Cursing, dishonesty, murder,
robbery, unfaithfulness—
these happen all the time.
Violence is everywhere.

3 And so your land is a desert.
Every living creature is dying—
people and wild animals,
birds and fish.

The [Lord] Warns the Priests

4 Don't accuse just anyone!
Not everyone is at fault.
My case is against you,
the priests.t

5 You and the prophets
will stumble day and night;
I'll silence your mothers.

6 You priests have rejected me,
and my people are destroyed
by refusing to obey.
Now I'll reject you and forget
your children, because you
have forgotten my Law.

7 By adding more of you priests,
you multiply the number
of people who sin.
Now I'll change your pride
into shame.

8 You encourage others to sin,
so you can stuff yourselves
on their sin offerings.

9 That's why I will punish
the people for their deeds,
just as I will punish
you priests.

10 Their food won't satisfy,
and having sex at pagan shrines
won't produce children.
My people have rebelled

11 and have been unfaithful
to me, their [Lord].

God Condemns Israel's Idolatry

12 You expect wooden idols
and other objects of wood
to give you advice.
Lusting for sex at pagan shrines
has made you unfaithful
to me, your God.

13 You offer sacrifices
on mountaintops and hills,
under oak trees, and wherever
good shade is found.
Your own daughters
and daughters-in-law
sell themselves for sex.

14 But I won't punish them.
You men are to blame,
because you go to prostitutes
and offer sacrifices with them
at pagan shrines.
Your own foolishness
will lead to your ruin.

15 Israel, you are unfaithful,
but don't lead Judah to sin.
Stop worshiping at Gilgal
or at sinful Bethel.t
And quit making promises
in my name— the name
of the living [Lord].

16 You are nothing more
than a stubborn cow—
so stubborn that I, the [Lord],
cannot feed you like lambs
in an open pasture.

17 You people of Israelt
are charmed byt idols.
Leave those people alone!

18 You get drunk, then sleep
with prostitutes;
you would rather be vulgar
than lead a decent life.t

19 And so you will be swept awayt
in a whirlwind
for sacrificing to idols.