Hosea 4

1 Hear the word of the LORD, 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.

Give ear to the word of the Lord, O children of Israel; for the Lord has a cause against the people of this land, because there is no good faith in it, and no mercy and no knowledge of God in the land.

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

There is cursing and broken faith, violent death and attacks on property, men are untrue in married life, houses are broken into, and there is blood touching blood.

3 Therefore the land mourns, and all those who dwell in it will waste away, along with the animals of the field and the crawling creatures of the earth and the birds of the sky, and even the fish of the sea will be taken away.

Because of this the land will be dry, and everyone living in it will be wasted away, with the beasts of the field and the birds of heaven; even the fishes of the sea will be taken away.

4 "Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; For your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.

Let no man go to law or make protests, for your people are like those who go to law with a priest.

5 You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.

You will not be able to keep on your feet by day, and by night the prophet will be falling down with you, and I will give your mother to destruction.

6 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.

Destruction has overtaken my people because they have no knowledge; because you have given up knowledge, I will give you up, so that you will be no priest to me, because you have not kept in mind the law of your God, I will not keep your children in my memory.

7 As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. They have exchanged their glory into shame.

Even while they were increasing in number they were sinning against me; I will let their glory be changed into shame.

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

The sin of my people is like food to them; and their desire is for their wrongdoing.

9 It will be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds.

And the priest will be like the people; I will give them punishment for their evil ways, and the reward of their acts.

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

They will have food, but they will not be full; they will be false to me, but they will not be increased, because they no longer give thought to the Lord.

11 Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

Loose ways and new wine take away wisdom.

12 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.

My people get knowledge from their tree, and their rod gives them news; for a false spirit is the cause of their wandering, and they have been false to their God.

13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and shady terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery.

They make offerings on the tops of mountains, burning perfumes in high places, under trees of every sort, because their shade is good: and so your daughters are given up to loose ways and your brides are false to their husbands.

14 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.

I will not give punishment to your daughters or your brides for their evil behaviour; for they make themselves separate with loose women, and make offerings with those who are used for sex purposes in the worship of the gods: the people who have no wisdom will be sent away.

15 "Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet do not let Judah offend; and do not come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, 'As the LORD lives.'

Do not you, O Israel, come into error; do not you, O Judah, come to Gilgal, or go up to Beth-aven, or take an oath, By the living Lord.

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

For Israel is uncontrolled, like a cow which may not be controlled; now will the Lord give them food like a lamb in a wide place.

17 Ephraim, joined to idols, has placed stumbling blocks against himself.

Ephraim is joined to false gods; let him be.

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

Their drink has become bitter; they are completely false; her rulers take pleasure in shame.

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

They are folded in the skirts of the wind; they will be shamed because of their offerings.