Hosea 4 (JPS) · Opened

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.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!

2Swearing and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery! they break all bounds, and blood toucheth blood.Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.

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

4Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.But let no man contend; let no man offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend with a priest.

5Therefore shalt thou stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; and I will destroy thy mother.You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your 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 also will forget thy 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.

7The more they were increased, the more 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.

8They 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.

9And it is like people, like priest; and I will punish him for his ways, and will recompense him his doings.And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.

10And they shall eat, and not have enough, they shall commit harlotry, and shall not increase; because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.They will eat but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have abandoned the LORD to give themselves

11Harlotry, wine, and new wine take away the heart.to promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which take away understanding.

12My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of harlotry hath caused them to err, and they have gone astray from under 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.

13They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and offer upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good; therefore your daughters commit harlotry, and your daughters-in-law 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.

14I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery; for they themselves consort with lewd women, and they sacrifice with harlots; and the people that is without understanding is distraught.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.

15Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah become guilty; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear: 'As the LORD liveth.'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!’

16For Israel is stubborn like a stubborn heifer; now shall the LORD feed them as a lamb in a large place?For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?

17Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!

18When their carouse is over, they take to harlotry; her rulers deeply love dishonour.When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace.

19The wind hath bound her up in her skirts; and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.

God’s Case against His People

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God’s Case against His People

You’ve read Hosea 4

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