Hosea 4
1 Hear the LORD’s word, you children of Israel, for the LORD has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.
[後編：以色列的罪惡和懲罰]四：以色列子民，請聽上主的話! 因為上主譴責此地的居民：因為此地沒有誠實，沒有仁愛，沒有人認識天主；
2 There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.
只有詛咒、謊言、殺戳、偷竊、姦淫、強暴和纍纍的血案。
3 Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells in it will waste away, with all living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die.
因此，此地必要荒廢；凡住在這地上的，甚至田間的野獸和天空的飛鳥都要絕跡，連海中的魚類也要消滅。
4 “Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.
但是沒有人爭辯，也沒有人譴責! 司祭啊，我要與你爭辯!
5 You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.
你白天黑夜跌倒，先知也同你一齊跌倒，你竟然使你的人民喪亡。
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s law, I will also forget your children.
我的百姓因缺乏知識而滅亡；因為你拋棄了知識，我也要拋棄你，不讓你充當我的司祭；你既然忘卻了你的天主的法律，我也要忘記你的子孫。
7 As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame.
司祭越增多，也越得罪我，竟以羞辱作為他們的光榮。
8 They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.
他們賴我百姓的罪惡自肥，一心渴望他們的過犯。
9 It will be like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds.
由此百姓和司祭，一律看待：我將按他的行徑懲治他，對他的行為予以報復，
10 They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned listening to the LORD.
好使他們吃，卻吃不飽，行淫而不能繁殖；因為他們捨棄了上主，縱慾，
11 Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.
行淫：老酒新酒叫人失去良知。
12 My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God.
我的人民求教於木偶，讓木杖啟示他；因為淫心迷往了他們，使他們行淫，遠開了他們的天主。
13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery.
在山頂上獻祭，在丘陵上、在橡樹、楊樹和篤耨香下焚香，在濃蔭下多麼愉快；因此你們的女兒行淫，你的兒媳犯姦。
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin.
但我卻不因你們的女兒行了淫，而懲罰她們，也不因你們的兒息媳犯了姦，而處罰她們；因為她們同蕩婦走往偏僻之處，又同廟妓一同獻祭：但無知的百姓卻因此而墮落!
15 “Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet do not let Judah offend; and do not come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, ‘As the LORD lives.’
以色列，如果你行了淫，但願猶大不要陷於罪惡! 你們不要到基耳加耳去，不要上貝特阿文，也不要起誓願 2上主永在! 」
16 For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will the LORD feed them like a lamb in a meadow?
的確，以色列倔強，有如一頭倔強的母牛，那麼上主那能牧放他們，有如在廣闊的草場牧放羔羊﹖
17 Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!
厄弗辣因與偶像結了不解之緣：任憑他們吧!
18 Their drink has become sour. They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.
他們與醉客為伍，任意荒淫，喜愛羞恥勝於上主的光榮。
19 The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices.
暴風要伸展羽翼將他們捲去，他們必因自己的祭壇蒙受恥辱。
