Hosea 4

1 Heare the worde of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controuersie with the inhabitants of the lande, because there is no trueth nor mercie nor knowledge of God in the lande.

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!

2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and whoring they breake out, and blood toucheth blood.

Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.

3 Therefore shall the land mourne, and euery one that dwelleth therein, shall be cut off, with the beasts of the fielde, and with the foules of the heauen, and also the fishes of the sea shall be taken away.

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.

4 Yet let none rebuke, nor reproue another: for thy people are as they that rebuke the Priest.

But let no man contend; let no man offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend with a priest.

5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the Prophet shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.

You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your mother—

6 My people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge: because thou hast refused knowledge, I will also refuse thee, that thou shalt be no Priest to me: and seeing thou hast forgotten the Lawe of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

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.

7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I chaunge their glorie into shame.

The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.

8 They eate vp the sinnes of my people, and lift vp their mindes in their iniquitie.

They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity.

9 And there shalbe like people, like Priest: for I wil visite their wayes vpon them, and reward them their deedes.

And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.

10 For they shall eate, and not haue ynough: they shall commit adulterie, and shall not increase, because they haue left off to take heede to ye Lord.

They will eat but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have stopped obeying the LORD.

11 Whoredome, and wine, and newe wine take away their heart.

Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

12 My people aske counsell at their stockes, and their staffe teacheth them: for the spirite of fornications hath caused them to erre, and they haue gone a whoring from vnder their God.

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.

13 They sacrifice vpon the toppes of ye mountaines, and burne incense vpon the hilles vnder the okes, and the poplar tree, and the elme, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall be harlots, and your spouses shall be whores.

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.

14 I will not visite your daughters when they are harlots: nor your spouses when they are whores: for they themselues are separated with harlots, and sacrifice with whores: therefore the people that doeth not vnderstand, shall fall.

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.

15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Iudah sinne: come not ye vnto Gilgal, neither goe ye vp to Beth-auen, nor sweare, The Lord liueth.

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!’

16 For Israel is rebellious as an vnruly heyfer. Nowe the Lord will feede them as a lambe in a large place.

For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?

17 Ephraim is ioyned to idoles: let him alone.

Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!

18 Their drunkennes stinketh: they haue committed whoredome: their rulers loue to say with shame, Bring ye.

When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace.

19 The winde hath bounde them vp in her wings, and they shalbe ashamed of their sacrifices.

The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.