הושע 4

1 שמעו דבר יהוה בני ישראל כי ריב ליהוה עם יושבי הארץ כי אין אמת ואין חסד ואין דעת אלהים בארץ׃

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 אלה וכחש ורצח וגנב ונאף פרצו ודמים בדמים נגעו׃

There is cursing, lying, killing, stealing and adultery. The people have broken all bounds, and bloodshed comes after bloodshed.

3 על כן תאבל הארץ ואמלל כל יושב בה בחית השדה ובעוף השמים וגם דגי הים יאספו׃

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 אך איש אל ירב ואל יוכח איש ועמך כמריבי כהן׃

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 וכשלת היום וכשל גם נביא עמך לילה ודמיתי אמך׃

You priests will stumble during the day; the prophets will also stumble with you by night, and I will destroy your mother.

6 נדמו עמי מבלי הדעת כי אתה הדעת מאסת ואמאסאך מכהן לי ותשכח תורת אלהיך אשכח בניך גם אני׃

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 כרבם כן חטאו לי כבודם בקלון אמיר׃

The more the priests multiplied, the more they sinned against me. They exchanged their honor for shame.

8 חטאת עמי יאכלו ואל עונם ישאו נפשו׃

They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for more of their wickedness.

9 והיה כעם ככהן ופקדתי עליו דרכיו ומעלליו אשיב לו׃

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 ואכלו ולא ישבעו הזנו ולא יפרצו כי את יהוה עזבו לשמר׃

They will eat but not have enough; they will commit prostitution but not increase, because they have gone far away from Yahweh.

11 זנות ויין ותירוש יקח לב׃

They love sexual promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which have taken away their understanding.

12 עמי בעצו ישאל ומקלו יגיד לו כי רוח זנונים התעה ויזנו מתחת אלהיהם׃

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 על ראשי ההרים יזבחו ועל הגבעות יקטרו תחת אלון ולבנה ואלה כי טוב צלה על כן תזנינה בנותיכם וכלותיכם תנאפנה׃

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 לא אפקוד על בנותיכם כי תזנינה ועל כלותיכם כי תנאפנה כי הם עם הזנות יפרדו ועם הקדשות יזבחו ועם לא יבין ילבט׃

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 אם זנה אתה ישראל אל יאשם יהודה ואל תבאו הגלגל ואל תעלו בית און ואל תשבעו חי יהוה׃

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 כי כפרה סררה סרר ישראל עתה ירעם יהוה ככבש במרחב׃

For Israel has behaved stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. How can Yahweh bring them to pasture like lambs in a meadow?

17 חבור עצבים אפרים הנח לו׃

Ephraim united himself with idols; leave him alone.

18 סר סבאם הזנה הזנו אהבו הבו קלון מגניה׃

Even when their strong drink is gone, they continue to commit adultery; her rulers dearly love their shame.

19 צרר רוח אותה בכנפיה ויבשו מזבחותם׃

The wind will wrap her up in its wings; and they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.