Hosea 4

1Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel, for the Lord shall enter into judgment with the inhabitants of the land: for there is no truth, and there is no mercy, and there is no knowledge of God 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.

2Cursing, and lying, and killing, and theft, and adultery, have overflowed, and blood hath touched blood.

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

3Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth in it shall languish with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of the air: yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be gathered together.

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.

4But yet let not any man judge: and let not a man be rebuked: for thy people are as they that contradict the priest.

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

5And thou shalt fall today, and the prophet also shall fall with thee: in the night I have made thy mother to be silent.

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 have been silent, because they had no knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will reject thee, that thou shalt not do the office of priesthood to me: and thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, 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.

7According to the multitude of them, so have 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 shall eat the sins of my people, and shall lift up their souls to their iniquity.

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

9And there shall be like people like priest: and I will visit their ways upon them, and I will repay them their devices.

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 shall not be filled: they have committed fornication, and have not ceased: because they have forsaken the Lord in not observing the law.

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 drunkenness, take away the understanding.

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

12My people have consulted their stocks, and their staff hath declared unto them: for the spirit of fornication hath deceived them, and they have committed fornication against their God.

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 offered sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burnt incense upon the hills: under the oak, and the poplar, and the turpentine tree, because the shadow thereof was good: therefore shall your daughters commit fornication, and your spouses shall be adulteresses.

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 visit upon your daughters, when they shall commit fornication, and upon your spouses when they shall commit adultery: because themselves conversed with harlots, and offered sacrifice with the effeminate, and the people that doth not understand shall be beaten.

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.

15If thou play the harlot, O Israel, at least let not Juda offend: and go ye not into Galgal, and come not up into Bethaven, and do not swear: The Lord 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 hath gone astray like a wanton heifer now will the Lord feed them, as a lamb in a spacious place.

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

17Ephraim is a partaker with idols, let him alone.

17Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

18Their banquet is separated, they have gone astray by fornication: they that should have protected them have loved to bring shame upon them.

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

19The wind hath bound them up in its wings, and they shall be confounded because of their sacrifices.

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