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Hosea 4

The Lord accuses Israel

4 Israelites, listen to the Lord 's message! The Lord accuses the people who live in Israel of these bad things: [ a ]

‘Nobody in the land of Israel is faithful. They have no true love. They do not want to know God. 2 They curse people, they tell lies, they murder people, they rob people. They are guilty of adultery. [ b ] They continue to kill more and more people. 3 Because of this, the land will become like a desert. Everyone who lives there will become weak. Everything will die: the wild animals, the birds, and even the fish in the sea.

4 Do not argue among yourselves or accuse one another. It is you priests who are guilty. 5 You are always falling over. In the day and in the night, you trip and you fall. [ c ] The false prophets are the same as you. So I will destroy Israel, your mother. 6 The people do not know me. Because of that, they will come to an end. You refuse to respect my authority, so I will remove you as my priests. You refuse to obey the law of your God, so I will refuse to accept your children as my priests.

7 The more priests that there are among you, the more sins they do against me. They should have received honour as priests, but I will make them ashamed. 8 They get food to eat when the people bring their sin offerings to them. So the priests are happy when the people do bad things, because they get more food to eat. 9 The people do whatever the priests do. I will punish them all for the bad things that they do. I will give them what their sins deserve. 10 They will eat, but they will still be hungry. They will have sex with prostitutes, but they will still have no children. This will happen because they have turned away from the Lord . 11 Instead, they worship other gods.

My people cannot think properly because they drink too much old wine and new wine. 12 They ask wooden idols to tell them what to do! A stick tells them what will happen in the future! They have turned away from me and they have lost their way. They have not been faithful to me, their God, as a prostitute is not faithful to her husband. 13 They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains. They burn offerings on the hills. They do this under the oak trees, the poplar trees and the other big trees. They enjoy the shade under those trees. As a result, your daughters serve the false gods as prostitutes. Your sons' wives are also guilty of adultery. 14 But I will not punish them for those sins, because the men are just as guilty! They sleep with prostitutes. They join with prostitutes to offer sacrifices to the false gods.

All of this shows that people who cannot think properly destroy themselves.’

The people of Judah must not copy Israel's sins

15 You people of Israel are not faithful to the Lord . But do not let the people of Judah become guilty of the same sins. Do not travel to Gilgal to worship! Do not go to Beth Aven! [ d ] Do not say, ‘I promise this is true, as surely as the Lord lives’. 16 Israel's people have turned against the Lord . They are like a young cow that refuses to obey its owner. So how can the Lord take care of them? Will he put them in a big field to eat the grass like lambs? 17 The people of Israel enjoy their idols. Do not go near them! 18 After they have drunk enough wine, they are happy to sleep with prostitutes. They enjoy doing things that should make them ashamed. 19 Now a strong wind will pick them up and take them away. They will become ashamed because of their sacrifices to false gods. [ e ]

Footnotes

  1. 4:1 It is like God is accusing his people in a court of law. They have not been faithful to him or obeyed his covenant with them.
  2. 4:2 Adultery is when a married person has sex with a person that they are not married to
  3. 4:5 When they fall over, that is a picture. It shows that they do not know what they should be doing. They have lost their way.
  4. 4:15 Hosea's message is sometimes like Amos's message. See Amos 5:5 . They did not want Israel's people to worship at Gilgal or at Bethel. Gilgal was an important place for the Israelites. They stopped there after they crossed the Jordan River. See Joshua 4:19 . Hosea calls Bethel ‘Beth Aven’. Bethel means ‘House of God’ but Beth Aven means ‘House of wicked things’.
  5. 4:19 It is time for God to judge them.

The Lord Is Angry Against Israel

4 People of Israel, listen to the Lord ’s message. The Lord has something to say against those who live in this land: “The people in this land are not honest or loyal. They don’t really know God. 2 They are always cursing, lying, killing, stealing, and committing adultery. They murder one person after another. 3 So the country is like someone crying for the dead, and all of its people are weak. Even the animals of the field, the birds of the sky, and the fish in the sea are dying. [ a ] 4 No one should argue or blame another person. Priests, my argument is with you! [ b ] 5 You priests will fall in the daytime. And at night the prophet will also fall with you. I will also destroy your mother.

6 “My people are destroyed because they have no knowledge. You priests have refused to learn, so I will refuse to let you be priests for me. You have forgotten the law of your God, so I will forget your children. 7 They became proud. They sinned more and more against me, so I will change their honor to shame.

8 “The priests fed on the people’s sins. They wanted more and more of their sin offerings. [ c ] 9 So the priests are no different from the people. I will punish them for the things they did. I will pay them back for the wrong things they did. 10 They will eat, but they will not be satisfied. They will commit sexual sins, but they will not have babies. [ d ] This is because they left the Lord and became like prostitutes.

11 “Sexual sins, strong drink, and new wine ruin a person’s ability to think straight. 12 My people are asking pieces of wood for advice. They think those sticks will answer them! They have chased after those false gods like prostitutes and have left their own God. 13 They make sacrifices on the tops of the mountains and burn incense on the hills under oak trees, poplar trees, and elm trees. [ e ] The shade under those trees looks nice. So your daughters lie under those trees like prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit sexual sins.

14 “I cannot blame your daughters or your daughters-in-law for doing this, because your men go and have sex with the temple prostitutes [ f ] and offer sacrifices with them. This is how foolish people destroy themselves.

The Shameful Sins of Israel

15 “Israel, just because you act like a prostitute doesn’t mean that Judah should feel guilty too. People, don’t go to Gilgal or Beth Aven. [ g ] Don’t use the Lord’s name to make promises. Don’t say, ‘As the Lord lives …!’ 16 The Lord has given many things to Israel. He is like a shepherd who takes his sheep to a large field with plenty of grass. But Israel is stubborn like a young cow that runs away again and again.

17 “Ephraim has joined his idols, so leave him alone. 18 Ephraim has joined their drunkenness. Let them continue to be prostitutes. Let them be with their lovers. [ h ] 19 They went to those gods for safety, and they have lost their ability to think. [ i ] Their altars will bring them shame.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:3 dying Literally, “being taken away.”
  2. Hosea 4:4 Or “The people cannot complain or blame someone else. The people are helpless, like arguing with a priest.” Many times the priests and Levites served as judges, and their decisions were final.
  3. Hosea 4:8 This is a wordplay. The word “sins” also means “sin offerings.” So instead of eating sacrifices, the priests became hungry for sin itself.
  4. Hosea 4:10 They … babies A part of worshiping the false gods was having sexual relations with temple prostitutes. The people thought this would make the gods happy. And then the gods would give the people large families and good crops.
  5. Hosea 4:13 under … trees Trees and groves were an important part of worshiping false gods.
  6. Hosea 4:14 temple prostitutes Women who were prostitutes at the temples of the false gods. Their sexual sins were part of worshiping those false gods.
  7. Hosea 4:15 Beth Aven A name meaning “House of Evil.” It is a wordplay on the name “Bethel,” a name meaning “House of God.” There was a temple in this town. Also in 5:8.
  8. Hosea 4:18 lovers This means Israel’s false gods.
  9. Hosea 4:19 They … think Or “The wind has carried them away on its wings” or “The spirit held them tight in its wings.” The Hebrew text here is hard to understand.

4 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.

God’s Controversy with Israel

4 ( A ) Listen to the word of the Lord , you sons of Israel,
Because the Lord has a ( B ) case against the inhabitants of the land,
For there is ( C ) no [ a ] faithfulness, nor [ b ] loyalty,
Nor ( D ) knowledge of God in the land.
2 There is ( E ) oath-taking, ( F ) [ c ] denial, ( G ) murder, ( H ) stealing, and ( I ) adultery.
They employ violence, so that ( J ) bloodshed [ d ] follows bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land ( K ) mourns,
And everyone who lives in it languishes
Along with the animals of the field and the birds of the sky,
And even the fish of the sea [ e ] disappear.

4 Yet let no one [ f ] ( L ) find fault, and let no one rebuke;
For your people are like those who ( M ) contend with a priest.
5 So you will ( N ) stumble by day,
And the prophet also will stumble with you by night;
And I will destroy your ( O ) mother.
6 ( P ) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Since you have ( Q ) rejected knowledge,
I also will ( R ) reject you from being My priest.
Since you have ( S ) forgotten the ( T ) Law of your God,
I also will forget your children.

7 The more they ( U ) multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;
I will ( V ) change their glory into shame.
8 They ( W ) feed on the [ g ] sin of My people,
And ( X ) long for their wrongdoing.
9 And it will be, like people, ( Y ) like priest;
So I will ( Z ) punish them for their ways
And repay them for their deeds.
10 ( AA ) They will eat, but not have enough;
They will ( AB ) play the prostitute, but not [ h ] increase,
Because they ( AC ) gave up devoting themselves to the Lord .

11 [ i ] Infidelity, ( AD ) wine, and new wine take away the [ j ] understanding.
12 My people ( AE ) consult their wooden idol, and their diviner’s wand informs them;
For a spirit of infidelity has led them astray,
And they have been unfaithful, departing [ k ] from their God.
13 They offer sacrifices on the ( AF ) tops of the mountains
And [ l ] ( AG ) burn incense on the hills,
( AH ) Under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
Because their shade is pleasant.
Therefore your daughters play the prostitute,
And your [ m ] brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute,
Or your [ n ] brides when they commit adultery,
Because the men themselves slip away with the prostitutes
And offer sacrifices with ( AI ) temple prostitutes;
So the people without understanding are ruined.

15 Though you, Israel, play the prostitute,
Judah must not become guilty;
Also you are not to go to ( AJ ) Gilgal,
Nor go up to Beth-aven
( AK ) And take the oath:
“As the Lord lives!”
16 Since Israel is ( AL ) stubborn
Like a stubborn cow,
[ o ] Will the Lord now ( AM ) pasture them
Like a lamb in a large field?
17 Ephraim is allied with ( AN ) idols;
( AO ) Leave him alone.
18 Their liquor is gone,
They prostitute themselves continually;
[ p ] ( AP ) Their [ q ] rulers dearly love shame.
19 ( AQ ) The wind wraps them in its wings,
And they will be [ r ] put to shame because of their sacrifices.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:1 Or truth
  2. Hosea 4:1 Or kindness
  3. Hosea 4:2 I.e., of truth
  4. Hosea 4:2 Lit touches
  5. Hosea 4:3 Lit are taken away
  6. Hosea 4:4 Lit contend
  7. Hosea 4:8 Or sin offering
  8. Hosea 4:10 I.e., either in population or wealth
  9. Hosea 4:11 Or Prostitution
  10. Hosea 4:11 Lit heart
  11. Hosea 4:12 Lit from under
  12. Hosea 4:13 Or offer sacrifices
  13. Hosea 4:13 Or daughters-in-law
  14. Hosea 4:14 Or daughters-in-law
  15. Hosea 4:16 Or The Lord will now pasture...field.
  16. Hosea 4:18 Another reading is They dearly love the shame of gifts
  17. Hosea 4:18 Lit shields
  18. Hosea 4:19 Or ashamed

The Charge Against Israel

4 Hear the word of the Lord , you Israelites,
because the Lord has a charge ( A ) to bring
against you who live in the land: ( B )
“There is no faithfulness, ( C ) no love,
no acknowledgment ( D ) of God in the land. ( E )
2 There is only cursing, [ a ] lying ( F ) and murder, ( G )
stealing ( H ) and adultery; ( I )
they break all bounds,
and bloodshed follows bloodshed. ( J )
3 Because of this the land dries up, ( K )
and all who live in it waste away; ( L )
the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
and the fish in the sea are swept away. ( M )

4 “But let no one bring a charge,
let no one accuse another,
for your people are like those
who bring charges against a priest. ( N )
5 You stumble ( O ) day and night,
and the prophets stumble with you.
So I will destroy your mother ( P ) —
6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. ( Q )

“Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also reject you as my priests;
because you have ignored the law ( R ) of your God,
I also will ignore your children.
7 The more priests there were,
the more they sinned against me;
they exchanged their glorious God [ b ] ( S ) for something disgraceful. ( T )
8 They feed on the sins of my people
and relish their wickedness. ( U )
9 And it will be: Like people, like priests. ( V )
I will punish both of them for their ways
and repay them for their deeds. ( W )

10 “They will eat but not have enough; ( X )
they will engage in prostitution ( Y ) but not flourish,
because they have deserted ( Z ) the Lord
to give themselves 11 to prostitution; ( AA )
old wine ( AB ) and new wine
take away their understanding. ( AC )
12 My people consult a wooden idol, ( AD )
and a diviner’s rod speaks to them. ( AE )
A spirit of prostitution ( AF ) leads them astray; ( AG )
they are unfaithful ( AH ) to their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops
and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak, ( AI ) poplar and terebinth,
where the shade is pleasant. ( AJ )
Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution ( AK )
and your daughters-in-law to adultery. ( AL )

14 “I will not punish your daughters
when they turn to prostitution,
nor your daughters-in-law
when they commit adultery,
because the men themselves consort with harlots ( AM )
and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes ( AN ) —
a people without understanding ( AO ) will come to ruin! ( AP )

15 “Though you, Israel, commit adultery,
do not let Judah become guilty.

“Do not go to Gilgal; ( AQ )
do not go up to Beth Aven. [ c ] ( AR )
And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’ ( AS )
16 The Israelites are stubborn, ( AT )
like a stubborn heifer. ( AU )
How then can the Lord pasture them
like lambs ( AV ) in a meadow?
17 Ephraim is joined to idols;
leave him alone!
18 Even when their drinks are gone,
they continue their prostitution;
their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
19 A whirlwind ( AW ) will sweep them away,
and their sacrifices will bring them shame. ( AX )

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:2 That is, to pronounce a curse on
  2. Hosea 4:7 Syriac (see also an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition); Masoretic Text me; / I will exchange their glory
  3. Hosea 4:15 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God ).
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