Hosea 4

1 Hear the word of Jehovah, ye children of Israel; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.2 There is nought but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood toucheth blood.3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.4 Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.5 And thou shalt stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; and I will destroy thy mother.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.7 As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame.8 They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.9 And it shall be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will requite them their doings.10 And they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall play the harlot, and shall not increase; because they have left off taking heed to Jehovah.11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the understanding.12 My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of whoredom hath caused them to err, and they have played the harlot, departing from under their God.13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery.14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes; and the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown.15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As Jehovah liveth.16 For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place.17 Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.18 Their drink is become sour; they play the harlot continually; her rulers dearly love shame.19 The wind hath wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be put to shame because of their sacrifices.

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.