Hosea
4:1 Hear 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.
4:2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing
adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
4:3 Therefore 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.
4:4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they
that strive with the priest.
4:5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall
with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
4:6 My 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.
4:7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I
change their glory into shame.
4:8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their
iniquity.
4:9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for
their ways, and reward them their doings.
4:10 For 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.
4:11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
4:12 My 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.
4:13 They 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.
4:14 I 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.
4:15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come
not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD
liveth.
4:16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed
them as a lamb in a large place.
4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
4:18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her
rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
4:19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed
because of their sacrifices.
