Hosea 4

1Hear the word of Yahweh, people of Israel, for Yahweh has a case against the inhabitants of the land: there is no faithfulness, no loyalty, and no knowledge of God in the land.

2There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

3Therefore 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 are swept away.

4Yet let no one bring charges, and let no one accuse, for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.

5You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night, and I will destroy your mother.

6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

7The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame.

8They feed on the sin of my people and set their hearts on their iniquity.

9So it will be: like people, like priest. I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.

10They will eat but not be satisfied; they will engage in prostitution but not increase, because they have stopped paying heed to Yahweh.

11Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

12My people consult their piece of wood, and their stick gives them answers. For a spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have prostituted themselves, leaving their God.

13They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. That is why your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

14I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, for the men themselves go off with prostitutes and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes. A people without understanding will come to ruin.

15Though you, Israel, commit prostitution, do not let Judah become guilty. Do not go to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear, “As Yahweh lives.”

16For Israel is stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. Now will Yahweh pasture them like a lamb in a broad meadow?

17Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone.

18When their drinking is over, they give themselves to prostitution; her rulers dearly love disgrace.

19A wind has wrapped her up in its wings, and they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.