Hosea 4

The Lord Accuses Israel

1  Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel,
for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
and no knowledge of God in the land;
2  there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;
they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3  Therefore the land mourns,
and all who dwell in it languish,
and also the beasts of the field
and the birds of the heavens,
and even the fish of the sea are taken away.

4  Yet let no one contend,
and let none accuse,
for with you is my contention, O priest.t
5  You shall stumble by day;
the prophet also shall stumble with you by night;
and I will destroy your mother.
6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.

7  The more they increased,
the more they sinned against me;
I will change their glory into shame.
8  They feed on the sint of my people;
they are greedy for their iniquity.
9  And it shall be like people, like priest;
I will punish them for their ways
and repay them for their deeds.
10  They shall eat, but not be satisfied;
they shall play the whore, but not multiply,
because they have forsaken the Lord
to cherish 11 whoredom, wine, and new wine,
which take away the understanding.
12  My people inquire of a piece of wood,
and their walking staff gives them oracles.
For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray,
and they have left their God to play the whore.
13  They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains
and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
because their shade is good.
Therefore your daughters play the whore,
and your brides commit adultery.
14  I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore,
nor your brides when they commit adultery;
for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes
and sacrifice with cult prostitutes,
and a people without understanding shall come to ruin.

15  Though you play the whore, O Israel,
let not Judah become guilty.
Enter not into Gilgal,
nor go up to Beth-aven,
and swear not, "As the Lord lives."
16  Like a stubborn heifer,
Israel is stubborn;
can the Lord now feed them
like a lamb in a broad pasture?

17  Ephraim is joined to idols;
leave him alone.
18  When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring;
their rulerst dearly love shame.
19  A wind has wrapped themt in its wings,
and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

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.