Hosea 4
World English BibleTranslation
World English Bible
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
1Hear the LORD’s word, you children of Israel, for the LORD has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor 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.
2There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.
2Swearing and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery! they break all bounds, and blood toucheth blood.
3Therefore 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.
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.
4“Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.
4Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
5You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.
5Therefore shalt thou stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; and I will destroy thy mother.
6My 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.
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.
7As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame.
7The more they were increased, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.
8They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.
8They feed on the sin of My people, and set their heart on their iniquity.
9It will be like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds.
9And it is like people, like priest; and I will punish him for his ways, and will recompense him his doings.
10They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned listening to the LORD.
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.
11Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.
11Harlotry, wine, and new wine take away the heart.
12My 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.
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.
13They 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.
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.
14I 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.
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.
15“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 the LORD lives.’
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.'
16For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will the LORD feed them like a lamb in a meadow?
16For Israel is stubborn like a stubborn heifer; now shall the LORD feed them as a lamb in a large place?
17Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!
17Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.
18Their drink has become sour. They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.
18When their carouse is over, they take to harlotry; her rulers deeply love dishonour.
19The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices.
19The wind hath bound her up in her skirts; and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
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