Hosea 4:1-19 NIV

Hosea 4:1-19 NIV [1] Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. [2] There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. [3] Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away. [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. [5] You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother— [6] my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law 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 for something disgraceful. [8] They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness. [9] And it will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. [10] “They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not flourish, because they have deserted the LORD to give themselves [11] to prostitution; old wine and new wine take away their understanding. [12] My people consult a wooden idol, and a diviner’s rod speaks to them. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God. [13] They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, where the shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. [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 and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes—a people without understanding will come to ruin! [15] “Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty. “Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven. And do not swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’ [16] The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the LORD pasture them like lambs 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 will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.

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