Hosea4
Yahweh Has an Indictment
1Hear the word of Yahweh, O children of Israel,for Yahweh has an indictment against the inhabitants of the land.There is no faithfulness or loyalty,there is no knowledge of God in the land.2Swearing and lying,murdering and stealing,and adultery break out, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.3Therefore the land mourns,and all those living in it languishwith the animals of the field,and the birds of the heaven,and even the fish of the seaare being swept away.4Yet, let no one contend,and let no one accuse,for with you, O priest, is my contention. 5You will stumble by day,and the priest also will stumblewith you at night.And I will destroy your mother;6My people are destroyedfor lack of knowledge;because you have rejected knowledge,I reject you from acting as a priest for me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God,I will also forget your children. 7When they became many, their sin increased against me;they changed their glory into shame.8⸤They feed on the sin of my people⸥, ⸤they are greedy⸥ for their iniquity.9And it will be like people, like priest;I will punish them for their ways,and I will requite them for their deeds.10They will eat and not be satisfied;they will play the whore and not multiply,because they have forsaken Yahweh ⸤to devote themselves to11whoredom⸥. Wine and new wine ⸤take away the understanding⸥. 12My people,consult ⸤their wooden idols⸥, and their divining rod gives them oracles;because a spirit of whoredom led them astray,and they played the whore from under their God. 13On the tops of the mountains they sacrifice,and on the hills they make offerings,under oak, poplar, and terebinth,because their shade is good.Therefore your daughters play the whore,and all your daughters-in-law commit adultery.14⸤I will not punish your daughters⸥ when they play the whore,or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery;because they go aside with whores,and they sacrifice with temple prostitutes,a people that does not understand comes to ruin.15Even though you, O Israel, are playing the whore,do not let Judah become guilty;do not enter Gilgal,or go up to Beth-aven;and do not swear,“⸤As Yahweh lives⸥!” 16Indeed, like a stubborn heifer,Israel is stubborn;Now Yahweh will feed them,like a lamb in broad pasture. 17Ephraim is joined to idols;let him alone.18When their drinking has ended,they surely indulge in sexual orgies.They love lewdness more than their glory.19A wind has wrapped them in its wings,and they will be ashamed because of their altars.Logos Bible Software