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.
2. By swearing * , and lying * , and killing * , and stealing * , and committing adultery * , they break out * , and blood toucheth * blood.
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. Yet let no man strive * , nor reprove * another: for thy people are as they that strive * with the priest.
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.
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.
7. As they were increased, so they sinned * against me: therefore will I change * their glory into shame.
8. They eat up * the sin of my people, and they set * their heart on their iniquity.
9. And there shall be, like people, like priest:and I will punish * them for their ways, and reward * them their doings.
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.
11. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away * the heart.
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.
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 * .
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 * .
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.
16. For Israel slideth back * as a backsliding * heifer: now the LORD will feed * them as a lamb in a large place.
17. Ephraim is joined * to idols:let him alone * .
18. Their drink is sour * : they have committed whoredom * continually * : her rulers with shame do love * , Give * ye.
19. The wind hath bound her up * in her wings, and they shall be ashamed * because of their sacrifices.
