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.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.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.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.9And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.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.15Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, 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.19The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
Hosea 4
English Standard Version
The Lord Accuses Israel
1Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; (Isa 3:13; Jer 4:22; Jer 5:4; Jer 25:31; Ho 4:6; Ho 4:14; Ho 5:1; Mic 6:2)2there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. (Ho 6:9; Ho 7:1; Ho 12:14; Mic 3:10; Mic 7:2)3Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away. (Isa 24:4; Jer 4:28; Eze 38:20; Joe 1:10; Joe 1:18; Zep 1:3)4Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest.[1] (De 17:12; Ho 4:17)5You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother. (Ho 2:2)6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. (Ex 19:6; Pr 1:29; Isa 5:13; Jer 23:39; Ho 4:1)7The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame. (1Sa 2:30; Ho 13:6; Mal 2:9)8They feed on the sin[2] of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity. (Le 6:25; Le 10:17)9And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. (Isa 24:2)10They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply, because they have forsaken the Lord to cherish (Le 26:26; Mic 6:14; Hag 1:6)11whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding. (1Ki 11:4; Pr 20:1)12My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore. (Jud 18:5; Ho 2:2; Ho 5:4)13They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your brides commit adultery. (Isa 1:29; Eze 6:13)14I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and a people without understanding shall come to ruin. (De 23:17; Ho 4:1; Ho 4:6; Ho 9:10)15Though you play the whore, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty. Enter not into Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and swear not, “As the Lord lives.” (1Ki 12:29; Ho 5:8; Ho 6:4; Ho 9:15; Ho 10:5; Ho 10:8; Ho 12:11; Am 1:5; Am 4:4; Am 5:5)16Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the Lord now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?17Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone. (Ho 4:12; Ho 5:3; Mt 15:14)18When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring; their rulers[3] dearly love shame. (Ho 9:10)19A wind has wrapped them[4] in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. (Isa 1:29; Jer 4:11; Jer 51:1; Ho 13:15; Zec 5:9)