Hosea 4

1 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.

Hear the Lord’s message, Israelites, for the Lord has brought charges against the inhabitants of the land, for there is no fidelity, nor true love, nor knowledge of God in the land,

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

but cursing, lying, and murder, stealing, committing adultery, and deeds of violence, and acts of bloodshed quickly follow each other.

3 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.

Therefore the land mourns, all its inhabitants languish, the wild animals and the birds of the skies, even the fish of the sea are dying.

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.

Yet let no one bring charges, let none accuse, for your people are like those, who bring charges against 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 stumble by day, and the prophet stumbles with you by 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 may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s law, I will also forget your children.

My people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge I reject you from being priest to me. Since you have forgotten the teaching of your God, I also will forget your children.

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

The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. I will change their dignity to dishonour.

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

They feed on the sin offerings of my people, so they hunger after their guilt.

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

Thus it comes to be, like people, like priest: I will visit upon each punishment for their ways, and their deeds I will repay them.

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

They will eat and not be satisfied, they will sleep around but stay childless, because they have abandoned the Lord to give themselves to

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

prostitution. Old and new wine take away the understanding.

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 own people ask counsel of a piece of wood! A stick gives them advice! For a spirit of prostitution has led them astray, they commit adultery against their God.

13 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.

On the heights of the mountains they sacrifice, and on the hills they burn incense under oaks and poplars and terebinths, for their shade is so pleasant. Therefore your daughters become cult prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

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 punish your daughters for committing prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law for adultery. Your men visit prostitutes, sacrifice with cult prostitutes. So a people without understanding come to ruin!

15 “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.’

Though you commit adultery, Israel, let not Judah become guilty. Do not go to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, nor swear an oath, ‘As the Lord lives.’

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

Like a wilful heifer, Israel is stubborn. Can the Lord now feed them as he would a lamb in a broad pasture?

17 Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!

Ephraim is wedded to idols. Leave them alone!

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

When their drinking is over they sleep with the cult prostitutes, their rulers love shameful ways.

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

A windstorm will wrap them in its wings and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices.