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!
Hear the Lord’s message, Israelites, for the Lord has brought charges against the inhabitants of the land, for there is no fidelity, nor true love, nor knowledge of God in the land,
2 Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.
but cursing, lying, and murder, stealing, committing adultery, and deeds of violence, and acts of bloodshed quickly follow each other.
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.
Therefore the land mourns, all its inhabitants languish, the wild animals and the birds of the skies, even the fish of the sea are dying.
4 But let no man contend; let no man offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend with a priest.
Yet let no one bring charges, let none accuse, for your people are like those, who bring charges against a priest.
5 You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your mother—
You stumble by day, and the prophet stumbles 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 will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
My people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge I reject you from being priest to me. Since you have forgotten the teaching of your God, I also will forget your children.
7 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.
The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. I will change their dignity to dishonor.
8 They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity.
They feed on the sin offerings of my people, so they hunger after their guilt.
9 And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
Thus it comes to be, like people, like priest: I will visit upon each punishment for their ways, and their deeds I will repay them.
10 They will eat but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have stopped obeying the LORD.
They will eat and not be satisfied, they will sleep around but stay childless, because they have abandoned the Lord to give themselves to
11 Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away understanding.
prostitution. Old and new wine take away the understanding.
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.
My own people ask counsel of a piece of wood! A stick gives them advice! For a spirit of prostitution has led them astray, they commit adultery against their God.
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.
On the heights of the mountains they sacrifice, and on the hills they burn incense under oaks and poplars and terebinths, for their shade is so pleasant. Therefore your daughters become cult prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
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.
I will not punish your daughters for committing prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law for adultery. Your men visit prostitutes, sacrifice with cult prostitutes. So a people without understanding come to ruin!
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!’
Though you commit adultery, Israel, let not Judah become guilty. Do not go to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, nor swear an oath, “As the Lord lives.”
16 For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?
Like a willful heifer, Israel is stubborn. Can the Lord now feed them as he would a lamb in a broad pasture?
17 Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
Ephraim is wedded to idols. Leave them alone!
18 When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace.
When their drinking is over they sleep with the cult prostitutes, their rulers love shameful ways.
19 The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
A windstorm will wrap them in its wings and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices.
