Hosea Chapter 4 (Index)

001  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.

002  By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

003  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.

004  Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

005  Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.

006  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.

007  As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

008  They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

009  And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.

010  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.

011  Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

012  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.

013  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.

014  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.

015  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.

016  For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

017  Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

018  Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.

019  The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.