Hosea 4

1Hear the word of Yahweh, sons of Israel, for Yahweh has a case against the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, no faithfulness, and no knowledge of God in the land.

2Cursing, lying, murder, theft, and adultery break out; bloodshed follows bloodshed.

3Therefore the land mourns, and everyone who dwells in it languishes, along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens; even the fish of the sea are taken away.

4Yet let no man contend, and let no man reprove, for your people are like those who contend with a priest.

5You will stumble by day, and the prophet also will stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother.

6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you from being priest to me. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

7The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into disgrace.

8They feed on the sin of my people, and they set their appetite on their iniquity.

9And it will be: like people, like priest. And I will punish him for his ways, and repay him for his deeds.

10They will eat, but not be satisfied; they will commit sexual immorality, but not increase, because they have abandoned Yahweh, to cherish prostitution.

11Sexual immorality, wine, and new wine take away the heart.

12My people consult their piece of wood, and their staff tells them; for a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have played the whore, departing from under their God.

13On the tops of the mountains they sacrifice, and on the hills they burn incense, under oak and poplar and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters prostitute themselves, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

14I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go apart with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and a people without understanding comes to ruin.

15Though you prostitute yourself, Israel, let not Judah become guilty. And do not go to Gilgal, and do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear, ‘As Yahweh lives.’

16For Israel is as stubborn as a stubborn heifer; now Yahweh will pasture them like a lamb in a broad place.

17Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone.

18When their drink is gone, they give themselves to prostitution; her shields dearly love shame.

19The wind has wrapped her in its wings, and they will be put to shame because of their sacrifices.