Old Testament · Hosea

Hosea 4

God’s Case against His People

1Hear the word of the LORD, sons of Israel, for the LORD has a dispute with the inhabitants of the land, for there is no truth and no mercy and no knowledge of God in the land.
2Swearing and lying, and murdering, and stealing, and committing adultery — they break forth, and bloods touch bloods.
3Therefore the land shall mourn, and everyone who dwells in it shall languish, with the beast of the field and with the bird of the heavens; and also the fish of the sea shall be gathered.
4Yet let no man^a contend, and let none reprove a man; for your people are like those who contend with a priest.
5And you shall stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.
6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest to me; and you have forgotten the Torah of your God — I also will forget your children.
7As they multiplied, so they sinned against me; their glory I will change into shame.
8The sin of my people they eat, and to their iniquity they lift up his soul^b.
9And it shall be, like people, like priest; and I will visit upon him his ways, and his deeds I will return to him.
10And they shall eat and not be satisfied; they shall play the harlot and not break forth, for they have forsaken the LORD to give heed.
11Harlotry and wine and new wine take away the heart.
12My people inquire of their wood, and their staff declares to them; for a spirit^c of harlotries has led them astray, and they have played the harlot from under their God.
13On the tops of the mountains they sacrifice, and on the hills they burn incense, under oak and poplar and terebinth, for their shade is good; therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14I will not visit upon your daughters when they play the harlot, nor upon your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery; for they themselves go aside with the harlots, and with the consecrated-women they sacrifice; and a people that does not understand is thrust down.
15Though you play the harlot, Israel, let not Judah become guilty; and do not come to Gilgal, and do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear, "As the LORD lives^d."
16For like a stubborn heifer Israel is stubborn; now the LORD will shepherd them like a lamb in a broad place.
17Joined to idols is Ephraim; let him alone.
18Their drink is turned sour; they utterly play the harlot; her shields deeply love shame.
19A wind has bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.