Hosea 4

KJVWEB

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. WEBHear Yahweh’s word, you children of Israel, for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.

2By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. WEBThere is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.

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. WEBTherefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells in it will waste away, with all living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die.

4Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. WEB“Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.

5Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. WEBYou will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and 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 will also forget thy children. WEBMy people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s law, I will also forget your children.

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

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

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

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. WEBThey will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned listening to Yahweh.

11Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. WEBProstitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

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. WEBMy people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God.

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. WEBThey sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery.

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. WEBI will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin.

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. WEB“Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don’t let Judah offend; and don’t come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, ‘As Yahweh lives.’

16For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. WEBFor Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow?

17Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. WEBEphraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!

18Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye. WEBTheir drink has become sour. They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.

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