Hos 4
1
Hear the word of YHWH, you children of Israel; for YHWH has a controversy with the
inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of
God in the land.
2
There is nothing but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing
adultery; they break out, and blood touches blood.
3
Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwells therein shall languish,
with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens; yea, the fishes of the
sea also shall be taken away.
4
Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for your people are as they that
strive with the priest.
5
And you shall stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with you in the
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 shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten
the law 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.
8
They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.
9
And it shall be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways,
and will requite them their doings.
10
And they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall play the harlot, and shall not
increase; because they have left off taking heed to YHWH.
11
Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the understanding.
12
My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declares to them; for the spirit
of whoredom has caused them to err, and they have played the harlot, [departing] from
under their God.
13
They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under
oaks and poplars and terebinths, because its shadow is good: therefore your
daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery.
14
I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they
commit adultery; for [the men] themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrifice
with the prostitutes; and the people that does not understand shall be overthrown.
15
Though you, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not you to
Gilgal, neither go you up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As YHWH lives.
16
For Israel has behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will YHWH feed
them as a lamb in a large place.
17
Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.
18
Their drink is become sour; they play the harlot continually; her rulers dearly love
shame.
19
The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be put to shame because of
their sacrifices.