Hosea 4

1 Listen to the word of the Lord, sons of Israel, for the Lord is judge of the inhabitants of the land. Yet there is no truth, and there is no mercy, and there is no knowledge of God, in the land.

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.

2 Slander, and lying, and killing, and theft, and adultery have overflowed, and bloodshed has brought more bloodshed.

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.

3 Because of this, the land will mourn, and all who dwell in it will languish, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. And the fishes of the sea also will be gathered together.

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.

4 So, truly, let each and every one not judge, and let no man be accused, for your people are just like those who speak against the priesthood.

Let no man go to law or make protests, for your people are like those who go to law with a priest.

5 And you will be ruined on this day, and now the prophet will be ruined with you. In the night, I have made your mother to be silent.

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.

6 My people have become silent because they had no knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge, I will drive you away; you do not perform the duties of the priesthood for me, and you have forgotten the law of your God, and so I will forget your sons.

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.

7 According to the multitude of them, so have they sinned against me. I will change their glory into disgrace.

Even while they were increasing in number they were sinning against me; I will let their glory be changed into shame.

8 They will devour the sins of my people, and they will lift up their souls towards their iniquity.

The sin of my people is like food to them; and their desire is for their wrongdoing.

9 And, just as it is with the people, so will it be with the priest; and I will visit their ways upon them, and I will repay them for their intentions.

And the priest will be like the people; I will give them punishment for their evil ways, and the reward of their acts.

10 And they will eat and not be satisfied. They have been committing fornication, and they did not cease. Since they have abandoned the Lord, they will not be safeguarded.

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.

11 Fornication, and wine, and drunkenness, have taken away their heart.

Loose ways and new wine take away wisdom.

12 My people have inquired of their stave, and their staff has announced to them. For the spirit of fornication has deceived them, and they have been fornicating before their God.

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.

13 They have offered sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burnt incense on the hills, under the oak, and the poplar, and the terebinth tree, because its shadow was good; therefore, your daughters will commit fornication and your spouses will be adulteresses.

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.

14 I will not send afflictions on your daughters, when they will commit fornication, nor on your spouses, when they will commit adultery, because you yourselves have associated with harlots and have offered sacrifice with the effeminate, and because the people who do not understand will be defeated.

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.

15 If you commit fornication, Israel, at least let Judah not commit offenses; and do not be willing to enter into Gilgal, nor to ascend to Bethaven, and neither should you swear, “As the Lord lives.”

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.

16 For Israel has gone astray like a wanton heifer; so now the Lord will pasture them like a young lamb in a wide expanse.

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.

17 Ephraim participates in idolatry, so send him away.

Ephraim is joined to false gods; let him be.

18 Their feasting has been set aside; they have committed fornication after fornication. They love to bring disgrace to their protectors.

Their drink has become bitter; they are completely false; her rulers take pleasure in shame.

19 The wind has fastened them to its wings, and they will be confounded because of their sacrifices.

They are folded in the skirts of the wind; they will be shamed because of their offerings.