Hosea 4

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

2By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.footnote a

3Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

4Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

5Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.footnote b

6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.footnote c

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

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

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

10For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

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

12My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

13They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

14I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.footnote gfootnote h

15Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.

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

17Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

18Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.footnote ifootnote j

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

God’s Case against His People

1Hear the word of the LORD,O children of Israel,for the LORD has a caseagainst the people of the land:“There is no truth, no loving devotion,and no knowledge of God in the land! 2Cursing and lying,murder and stealing,and adultery are rampant;one act of bloodshed follows another. 3Therefore the land mourns,and all who dwell in it will waste awaywith the beasts of the field and the birds of the air;even the fish of the sea disappear.

4But let no man contend;let no man offer reproof;for your people are like thosewho contend with a priest.footnote a 5You will stumble by day,and the prophet will stumble with you by night;so I will destroy your mother— 6My people are destroyedfor 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.

7The more they multiplied,the more they sinned against Me;they exchanged their Gloryfootnote bfor a thing of disgrace. 8They feed on the sinsfootnote cof My peopleand set their hearts on iniquity. 9And it shall belike people, like priest.I will punish both of them for their waysand repay them for their deeds. 10They will eat but not be satisfied;they will be promiscuous but not multiply.For they have abandoned the LORD to give themselves 11to promiscuity, wine, and new wine,which take away understanding.

12My people consult their wooden idols,and their divining rods inform them.For a spirit of prostitution leads them astrayand they have played the harlot against their God. 13They sacrifice on the mountaintopsand burn offerings on the hills,under oak, poplar, and terebinth,because their shade is pleasant.And so your daughters turn to prostitutionand your daughters-in-law to adultery. 14I will not punish your daughterswhen they prostitute themselves,nor your daughters-in-lawwhen they commit adultery.For the men themselves go off with prostitutesand offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes.So a people without understandingwill come to ruin.

15Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel,may Judah avoid such guilt!Do not journey to Gilgal,do not go up to Beth-aven,footnote dand do not swear on oath,‘As surely as the LORD lives!’ 16For Israel is as obstinateas a stubborn heifer.Can the LORD now shepherd themlike lambs in an open meadow? 17Ephraimfootnote eis joined to idols;leave him alone! 18When their liquor is gone,they turn to prostitution;their rulersfootnote fdearly love disgrace. 19The whirlwind has wrapped themfootnote gin its wings,and their sacrifices will bring them shame.