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.

1. Hear the word of Yahweh, Israel! for Yahweh has an accusation to bring against the inhabitants of this land. There is neither truth nor goodness nor knowledge of God in the country;

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

2. only perjury, lies, murder, theft and adultery, with continual bloodshed.

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.

3. That is why the country is in mourning with all who live there wasting away; the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, even the fish are dying.

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

4. But let no one apologize or accuse another, for it is you, priest, whom I single out!

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.

5. You will stumble in broad daylight, and the prophet will fall with you into darkness; I will silence you.

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.

6. My people perish for want of knowledge. As you have dropped the Knowledge, I will drop you from my priesthood, and since you ignore the law of your God, I, too, will ignore your children.

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

7. All have offended me; they have exchanged me, their Glory, for idols, their shame.

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

8. Since they eat of the sacrifices for sin, they like my people to sin.

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

9. Yet it will be for the people as for the priest; I shall punish both for their conduct and repay them for their deeds.

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.

10. They will eat and not be satisfied; they will multiply their prostitutions but remain without child, for they have no reverence for Yahweh.

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

11. Harlotry, wine and liquors have taken hold of their hearts.

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.

12. My people consult a wooden idol and rely on a rod for information. A spirit of adultery leads them astray and makes them unfaithful to 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.

13. They sacrifice on the mountain tops and offer incense on the hills, under the oak, the poplar and the terebinth, wherever the shade is pleasant.

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.

14. That is why, if your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery, I will not punish them, for you yourselves go off with harlots and sacrifice with temple prostitutes. A senseless people destroys itself.

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.

15. If Israel is a prostitute, there is no reason for Judah to sin. Do not go to Gilgal or Beth-aven; do not swear, "As Yahweh lives!")

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

16. Since Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow, will Yahweh pasture it gently as a lamb?

17. Ephraim [is] joined to idols: let him alone.

17. Ephraim is devoted to idols, let Yahweh leave him alone!

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

18. After being drunk with wine they go with prostitutes; they prefer their idols to their Glory.

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

19. A whirlwind will sweep them away and they will have gained nothing with their sacrifices.