Hosea 4

1Hear the word of Jehovah, ye children of Israel; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land; for there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge ofGod in the land.

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.

2Swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, — they break out; and blood toucheth blood.

2By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

3For this shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowl of the heavens, yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

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, and let no man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

4Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

5And thou shalt stumble by day; and the prophet also shall stumble with thee by night: and I will destroy thy mother.

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; for thou hast rejected knowledge, and I will reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thyGod, I also will forget thy children.

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 multiplied, so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame.

7As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

8They eat the sin of my people, and their soul longeth for their iniquity.

8They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

9And it shall be as the people so the priest; and I will visit their ways upon them, and recompense to them their doings;

9And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.

10and they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: for they have left off taking heed to Jehovah.

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.

11Fornication, and wine, and new wine take away the heart.

11Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

12My people ask counsel of their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of whoredoms causeth [them] to err, and they have gone a whoring from under theirGod:

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 oak and poplar and terebinth, because the shade thereof is good; therefore your daughters play the harlot and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

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 play the harlot, nor your daughters-in-law for their committing adultery; for they themselves go aside with harlots, and they sacrifice with prostitutes: and the people that doth not understand shall come to ruin.

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, let not Judah trespass; and come ye not unto Gilgal, neither go up to Beth-aven, nor swear [As] Jehovah liveth!

15Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth–aven, nor swear, The Lord liveth.

16For Israel is refractory as an untractable heifer; now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a wide [pasture].

16For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

17— Ephraim is joined to idols: leave him alone.

17Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

18Their drink is sour; they give themselves up to whoredom; her great men passionately love [their] shame.

18Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.

19The wind hath wrapped her up in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

19The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.