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 Jehovah, ye children of Israel; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land; for there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.

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

Swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, — they break out; and blood toucheth blood.

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.

For this shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowl of the heavens, yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

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

Yet let no man strive, and let no man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the 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.

And thou shalt stumble by day; and the prophet also shall stumble with thee by night: and I will destroy thy 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; for thou hast rejected knowledge, and I will reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.

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

As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame.

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

They eat the sin of my people, and their soul longeth for their 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 as the people so the priest; and I will visit their ways upon them, and recompense to them their doings;

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.

and they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: for they have left off taking heed to Jehovah.

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

Fornication, and wine, and new wine take away the heart.

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 ask counsel of their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of whoredoms causeth [them] to err, and they have gone a whoring from under 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 upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oak and poplar and terebinth, because the shade thereof is good; therefore your daughters play the harlot and your daughters-in-law commit 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 play the harlot, nor your daughters-in-law for their committing adultery; for they themselves go aside with harlots, and they sacrifice with prostitutes: and the people that doth not understand shall 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 thou, Israel, play the harlot, let not Judah trespass; and come ye not unto Gilgal, neither go up to Beth-aven, nor swear [As] Jehovah liveth!

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 refractory as an untractable heifer; now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a wide [pasture].

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.

Their drink is sour; they give themselves up to whoredom; her great men passionately love [their] shame.

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

The wind hath wrapped her up in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.