Hosea

1Hear the LORD’s word, you children of Israel,for the LORD has a charge against the inhabitants of the land:“Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness,nor knowledge of God in the land.

2There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.

3Therefore the land will mourn,and everyone who dwells in it will waste away,with all living things in her,even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die.

4“Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse;for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.

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

6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me.Because you have forgotten your God’s law,I will also forget your children.

7As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me.I will change their glory into shame.

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

9It will be like people, like priest;and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds.

10They will eat, and not have enough.They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned listening to the LORD.

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

12My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood.Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray,and they have been unfaithful to their God.

13They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains,and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because its shade is good.Therefore your daughters play the prostitute,and your brides commit adultery.

14I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute,nor your brides when they commit adultery;because the men consort with prostitutes,and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin.

15“Though you, Israel, play the prostitute,yet don’t let Judah offend; and don’t come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, ‘As the LORD lives.’

16For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer.Then how will the LORD feed them like a lamb in a meadow?

17Ephraim is joined to idols.Leave him alone!

18Their drink has become sour.They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.

19The wind has wrapped her up in its wings;and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices.

God’s Case against His People

1Hear the word of the LORD,O children of Israel,for the LORD has a caseagainst the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion,and no knowledge of God in the land!

2Cursing and lying,murder and stealing,and adultery are rampant;one act of bloodshed follows another.

3Therefore the land mourns,and all who dwell in it will waste awaywith the beasts of the field and the birds of the air;even the fish of the sea disappear.

4But let no man contend;let no man offer reproof;for your people are like thosewho contend with a priest.

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

6My people are destroyedfor lack of knowledge.Because you have rejected knowledge,I will also reject you as My priests.Since you have forgotten the law of your God,I will also forget your children.

7The more they multiplied,the more they sinned against Me;they exchanged their Gloryfor a thing of disgrace.

8They feed on the sinsof My peopleand set their hearts on iniquity.

9And it shall belike people, like priest.I will punish both of them for their waysand repay them for their deeds.

10They will eat but not be satisfied;they will be promiscuous but not multiply.For they have abandoned the LORD to give themselves

11to promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which take away understanding.

12My people consult their wooden idols,and their divining rods inform them.For a spirit of prostitution leads them astrayand they have played the harlot against their God.

13They sacrifice on the mountaintopsand burn offerings on the hills,under oak, poplar, and terebinth,because their shade is pleasant.And so your daughters turn to prostitutionand your daughters-in-law to adultery.

14I will not punish your daughterswhen they prostitute themselves,nor your daughters-in-lawwhen they commit adultery.For the men themselves go off with prostitutesand offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes.So a people without understandingwill come to ruin.

15Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel,may Judah avoid such guilt!Do not journey to Gilgal,do not go up to Beth-aven,and do not swear on oath,‘As surely as the LORD lives!’

16For Israel is as obstinateas a stubborn heifer.Can the LORD now shepherd themlike lambs in an open meadow?

17Ephraimis joined to idols;leave him alone!

18When their liquor is gone,they turn to prostitution; their rulersdearly love disgrace.

19The whirlwind has wrapped themin its wings,and their sacrifices will bring them shame.