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 Yahweh’s word, you children of Israel, for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “Indeed 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.

There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes 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.

Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells in it will waste away, with all living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die.

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

“Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; for your people are like those who bring charges against 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 in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the 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 destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s law, I will also forget your 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 feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.

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

It will be like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and 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, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned listening to Yahweh.

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

Prostitution, 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 with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful 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 its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides 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 prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the 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, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don’t let Judah offend; and don’t come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, ‘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 extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a 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.

Their drink has become sour. They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.

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

The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices.