Hosea 4

1HearH8085 the wordH1697 of Jehovah, ye children of IsraelH3478; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitantsH3427 of the landH776, because there is no truthH571, nor goodness, nor knowledgeH1847 of GodH430 in the landH776. 2There is nought but swearingH422 and breakingH6555 faith, and killing, and stealingH1589, and committingH5003 adulteryH5003; they breakH6555 out, and bloodH1818 toucheth bloodH1818. 3ThereforeH3651 shall the landH776 mournH56, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languishH535, with the beasts of the fieldH7704 and the birdsH5775 of the heavensH8064; yea, the fishes of the seaH3220 alsoH1571 shall be taken away. 4Yet let no manH376 strive, neither let any manH376 reproveH3198; for thy peopleH5971 are as they that strive with the priestH3548. 5And thou shalt stumbleH3782 in the dayH3117, and the prophetH5030 alsoH1571 shall stumbleH3782 with thee in the nightH3915; and I will destroyH1820 thy motherH517.

6My peopleH5971 are destroyedH1820 for lack of knowledgeH1847: because thou hast rejectedH3988 knowledgeH1847, I will alsoH1571 rejectH3988 thee, that thou shalt be no priestH3547 to me: seeing thou hast forgottenH7911 the lawH8451 of thy GodH430, I alsoH1571 will forgetH7911 thy children. 7As they were multipliedH7235, so they sinnedH2398 against me: I will change their gloryH3519 into shameH7036. 8They feed on the sinH2403 of my peopleH5971, and set their heart on their iniquityH5771. 9And it shall beH1961, like peopleH5971, like priestH3548; and I will punishH6485 them for their waysH1870, and will requite them their doings. 10And they shall eatH398, and not have enough; they shall playH2181 the harlot, and shall not increase; because they have leftH5800 off taking heedH8104 to Jehovah.

11Whoredom and wineH3196 and newH8492 wineH3196 takeH3947 awayH3947 the understanding. 12My peopleH5971 askH7592 counsel at their stock, and their staffH4731 declareth unto them; for the spiritH7307 of whoredom hath caused them to errH8582, and they have playedH2181 the harlot, departing from under their GodH430. 13They sacrificeH2076 upon the topsH7218 of the mountainsH2022, and burn incenseH6999 upon the hillsH1389, under oaksH437 and poplars and terebinths, because the shadowH6738 thereof is goodH2896: thereforeH3651 your daughtersH1323 playH2181 the harlot, and your bridesH3618 commitH5003 adulteryH5003. 14I will not punishH6485 your daughtersH1323 when they playH2181 the harlot, nor your bridesH3618 when they commitH5003 adulteryH5003; for the men themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrificeH2076 with the prostitutesH2181; and the peopleH5971 that doth not understandH995 shall be overthrown.

15Though thou, IsraelH3478, playH2181 the harlot, yet let not JudahH3063 offend; and comeH935 not ye unto GilgalH1537, neither goH935 ye up to Beth-aven, nor swearH7650, As Jehovah liveth. 16For IsraelH3478 hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubbornH5637 heiferH6510: nowH6258 will Jehovah feedH7462 them as a lambH3532 in a large placeH4800. 17EphraimH669 is joinedH2266 to idolsH6091; let him alone. 18Their drinkH5435 is become sour; they playH2181 the harlot continually; her rulers dearly loveH157 shameH7036. 19The windH7307 hath wrapped her up in its wingsH3671; and they shall be putH954 to shameH954 because of their sacrificesH2077.