Hosea 4
1 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no 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 Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.
只有詛咒、謊言、殺戳、偷竊、姦淫、強暴和纍纍的血案。
3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.
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 But let no man contend; let no man offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend with 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 by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so 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 as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, 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 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.
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 sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity.
他們賴我百姓的罪惡自肥，一心渴望他們的過犯。
9 And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and 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 but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have stopped obeying 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 Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away understanding.
行淫：老酒新酒叫人失去良知。
12 My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against 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 mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to 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 prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a 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 prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely 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 is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open 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 When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace.
他們與醉客為伍，任意荒淫，喜愛羞恥勝於上主的光榮。
19 The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
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。
