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 Yahweh, you people of Israel. Yahweh has a lawsuit against the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truthfulness or covenantal faithfulness, 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.
There is cursing, lying, killing, stealing and adultery. The people have broken all bounds, and bloodshed comes after bloodshed.
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.
So the land is drying up, and everyone living in it is wasting away; the beasts in the fields and the birds in the sky, even the fish in the sea, are being taken away.
4 Yet let none rebuke, nor reproue another: for thy people are as they that rebuke the Priest.
But do not allow anyone to bring a lawsuit; do not let anyone accuse anyone else. For it is you, the priests, whom I am accusing.
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 priests will stumble during the day; the prophets will also stumble with you by night, and 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 being destroyed because of the lack of knowledge. Because you priests have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as priests to me. Because you have forgotten my law, although I am your God, I also will forget your children.
7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I chaunge their glorie into shame.
The more the priests multiplied, the more they sinned against me. They exchanged their honor for shame.
8 They eate vp the sinnes of my people, and lift vp their mindes in their iniquitie.
They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for more of their wickedness.
9 And there shalbe like people, like Priest: for I wil visite their wayes vpon them, and reward them their deedes.
It will be the same for the people as for the priests: I will punish them all for their practices; I will 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 have enough; they will commit prostitution but not increase, because they have gone far away from Yahweh.
11 Whoredome, and wine, and newe wine take away their heart.
They love sexual promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which have taken away their 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 walking sticks give them prophecies. For a mind of promiscuity has misled them, and they have acted as prostitutes instead of being faithful to 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 tops of the mountains and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars and terebinths, because the shade is good. So your daughters commit sexual immorality, 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 choose to commit sexual immorality, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men also give themselves to the prostitutes, and they offer sacrifices so they can commit immoral acts with sacred prostitutes. So this people who does not understand will be thrown down.
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, Israel, have committed adultery, may Judah not become guilty. Do not go to Gilgal, you people; do not go up to Beth Aven, and do not swear, saying, “As Yahweh 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 has behaved stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. How can Yahweh bring them to pasture like lambs in a meadow?
17 Ephraim is ioyned to idoles: let him alone.
Ephraim united himself with idols; leave him alone.
18 Their drunkennes stinketh: they haue committed whoredome: their rulers loue to say with shame, Bring ye.
Even when their strong drink is gone, they continue to commit adultery; her rulers dearly love their shame.
19 The winde hath bounde them vp in her wings, and they shalbe ashamed of their sacrifices.
The wind will wrap her up in its wings; and they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
