Hosea 4
1 Hear the word of the LORD, people of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land: there is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land.
2 They swear falsely, lie, murder, steal, and commit adultery; they break every boundary, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away, along with the wild animals and the birds of the sky; even the fish of the sea disappear.
4 But let no one accuse, let no one rebuke; your people are like those who quarrel with a priest.
5 You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest; you have forgotten the law of your God, so I too will forget your children.
7 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against me; I will exchange their glory for shame.
8 They feed on the sin offering of my people and set their desire on the people's guilt.
9 It will be the same for people and priest alike. I will punish him for his ways and repay him for his deeds.
10 They will eat but not be satisfied; they will prostitute themselves but not increase, because they have abandoned the LORD and stopped keeping watch over him.
11 Prostitution, wine, and new wine take hold of the heart.
12 My people consult their piece of wood, and their staff gives them an answer, because a spirit of prostitution has led them astray. They have prostituted themselves, turning away from their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn incense on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters prostitute themselves, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes. A people without understanding comes to ruin.
15 If you prostitute yourself, Israel, let Judah not become guilty. Do not go to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear, “As the LORD lives!”
16 For Israel has rebelled like a stubborn heifer. Now the LORD will pasture them like a lamb in open country.
17 Ephraim is bound to idols; leave him alone.
18 Their drinking is over; they have prostituted themselves without restraint. Her rulers have truly loved shame.
19 The wind has wrapped her in its wings, and they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
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