Hosea 4

1 Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

Hear the LORD’s word, you children of Israel, for the LORD 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 committing adultery, they break out, and blood touches blood.

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

3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwells therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yes, the fishes of the sea also 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 no man strive, nor reprove another: for your people are as they that strive with 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 shall you fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with you in the night, and I will destroy your 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 lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your 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 change their glory into shame.

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

8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.

9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.

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 eat, and not have enough: they shall commit prostitution, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned listening to the LORD.

11 Prostitution and wine and new wine take away the heart.

Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declares to them: for the spirit of prostitutions has caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under 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 on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit prostitution, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

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 punish your daughters when they commit prostitution, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that does not understand 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 you, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not you to Gilgal, neither go you up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD lives.

“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 the LORD lives.’

16 For Israel slides back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will the LORD feed them like a lamb in a meadow?

17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!

18 Their drink is sour: they have committed prostitution continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give you.

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

19 The wind has bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

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