Hosea 4
4
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,#The LXX adds “and adultery breaks out in the land”
and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3Therefore the land mourns,
and all those living in it languish
with the animals of the field,
and the birds of the heaven,
and even the fish of the sea
are being swept away.
4Yet, let no one contend,
and let no one accuse,
for with you, O priest, is my contention.#The Hebrew is unclear; the NASB translates “For your people are like those who contend with the priest”
5You will stumble by day,
and the priest also will stumble
with you at night.
And I will destroy your mother;
6My people are destroyed
for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from acting as a priest for me.#Or “to me”
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I will also forget your children.#Hebrew “sons”
7When they became many, their sin increased against me;
they changed#Hebrew uncertain; MT “I will exchange” their glory into shame.
8They feed on the sin of my people,#Literally “They eat the sins of my people”
they are greedy#Literally “they lift up their throat” for their iniquity.
9And it will be like people, like priest;
I will punish them#Hebrew “him” for their#Hebrew “his” ways,
and I will requite them#Hebrew “him” for their#Hebrew “his” deeds.
10They will eat and not be satisfied;
they will play the whore and not multiply,
because they have forsaken Yahweh to devote themselves to
11whoredom.#Literally “to watch over whoredom”
Wine and new wine take away the understanding.#Literally “take away heart”
12My people,
consult their wooden idols,#Literally “their wood”
and their divining rod gives them oracles;
because a spirit of whoredom led them astray,
and they played the whore from under their God.#That is, “they played the whore forsaking their God”; See Ezek 23:5
13On the tops of the mountains they sacrifice,
and on the hills they make offerings,
under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
because their#Hebrew “its” shade is good.
Therefore your daughters play the whore,
and all your daughters-in-law#Or “brides” commit adultery.
14I will not punish your daughters#Literally “I will not visit sins upon your daughters” when they play the whore,
or your daughters-in-law#Or “brides” 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!”#Literally “the life of Yahweh”
16Indeed, like a stubborn heifer,
Israel is stubborn;
Now Yahweh will feed them,
like a lamb in broad pasture.#Or “Can Yahweh 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#Hebrew “her” glory.
19A wind has wrapped them#Hebrew “her” in its wings,
and they will be ashamed because of their altars.
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Hosea 4: LEB
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