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 word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, 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.

Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.

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, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.

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.

But let no man contend; let no man offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend 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 stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so 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 destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

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

The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.

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

They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity.

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

And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.

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 but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have stopped obeying the LORD.

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

Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away 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 people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot 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.

They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to 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 when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.

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.’

Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely 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?

For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?

17 Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!

Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!

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

When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace.

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

The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.