Hosea 4
1 Give ear to the word of the Lord, O children of Israel; for the Lord has a cause against the people of this land, because there is no good faith in it, and no mercy 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 There is cursing and broken faith, violent death and attacks on property, men are untrue in married life, houses are broken into, and there is blood touching blood.
只有詛咒、謊言、殺戳、偷竊、姦淫、強暴和纍纍的血案。
3 Because of this the land will be dry, and everyone living in it will be wasted away, with the beasts of the field and the birds of heaven; even the fishes of the sea will be taken away.
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 Let no man go to law or make protests, for your people are like those who go to law 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 not be able to keep on your feet by day, and by night the prophet will be falling down with you, and I will give your mother to destruction.
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 Destruction has overtaken my people because they have no knowledge; because you have given up knowledge, I will give you up, so that you will be no priest to me, because you have not kept in mind the law of your God, I will not keep your children in my memory.
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 Even while they were increasing in number they were sinning against me; I will let their glory be changed into shame.
司祭越增多，也越得罪我，竟以羞辱作為他們的光榮。
8 The sin of my people is like food to them; and their desire is for their wrongdoing.
他們賴我百姓的罪惡自肥，一心渴望他們的過犯。
9 And the priest will be like the people; I will give them punishment for their evil ways, and the reward of their acts.
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 have food, but they will not be full; they will be false to me, but they will not be increased, because they no longer give thought 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 Loose ways and new wine take away wisdom.
行淫：老酒新酒叫人失去良知。
12 My people get knowledge from their tree, and their rod gives them news; for a false spirit is the cause of their wandering, and they have been false 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 make offerings on the tops of mountains, burning perfumes in high places, under trees of every sort, because their shade is good: and so your daughters are given up to loose ways and your brides are false to their husbands.
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 give punishment to your daughters or your brides for their evil behaviour; for they make themselves separate with loose women, and make offerings with those who are used for sex purposes in the worship of the gods: the people who have no wisdom will be sent away.
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 Do not you, O Israel, come into error; do not you, O Judah, come to Gilgal, or go up to Beth-aven, or take an oath, By the living Lord.
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 uncontrolled, like a cow which may not be controlled; now will the Lord give them food like a lamb in a wide place.
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 false gods; let him be.
厄弗辣因與偶像結了不解之緣：任憑他們吧!
18 Their drink has become bitter; they are completely false; her rulers take pleasure in shame.
他們與醉客為伍，任意荒淫，喜愛羞恥勝於上主的光榮。
19 They are folded in the skirts of the wind; they will be shamed because of their offerings.
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。
