Hosea 4 - Amplified Bible(AMP)

God’s Controversy with Israel

1Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel,

For the Lord has a case with the inhabitants of the land,

Because there is no faithfulness or loyalty or kindness

Or knowledge of God in the land.

2There is swearing of oaths, deception (broken faith), murder, stealing, and adultery;

They employ violence, so that one bloodshed follows closely on another.

3Therefore the land mourns,

And everyone who lives in it languishes

Together with the animals of the open country and the birds of the heavens;

Even the fish of the sea disappear.

4¶Yet let no one find fault, nor let any rebuke;

For your people are like those who contend with the priest.

5So you will stumble in the daytime,

And the prophet will also stumble with you in the night;

And I will destroy your mother (Israel).

6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I will also reject you from being My priest.

Since you have forgotten the law of your God,

I will also forget your children.

7¶The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;

I will change their glory into shame.

8They (the priests) feed on the sin offering of My people

And set their heart on their wickedness.

9And it shall be: like people, like priest;

So I will punish them for their ways

And repay them for their deeds.

10They will eat, but not have enough;

They will play the prostitute, but not increase,

Because they have stopped giving heed to the Lord.

11¶Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away the mind and the understanding.

12My people consult their wooden idol, and their wand gives them oracles.

For a spirit of prostitution has led them astray,

And they have played the prostitute, withdrawing themselves from their God.

13They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains

And burn incense on the hills,

Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,

Because the shade is pleasant there.

Therefore your daughters play the prostitute

And your brides commit adultery.

14I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute

Or your brides when they commit adultery,

For the men themselves slip away with prostitutes,

And they offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes.

So the people without understanding come to ruin.

15¶Though you, Israel, play the prostitute,

Do not let Judah become guilty;

And do not go to Gilgal,

Or go up to Beth-aven (House of Wickedness),

Nor swear,

“As the Lord lives!”

16For Israel is stubborn,

Like a stubborn heifer.

Can the Lord now pasture them

Like a lamb in a large field?

17Ephraim is joined to idols,

So let him alone.

18When their liquor is gone,

They habitually go to play the prostitute;

Ephraim’s rulers continue to dearly love shame.

19The wind has wrapped up Israel in its wings,

And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.