Hosea 4:1-19 KJ21

[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. [2] "By swearing and lying, and killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. [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. [4] Yet let no man strive with, nor reprove another; for this people are as they that strive with the priest. [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. [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. [7] "As they were increased, so they sinned against Me; therefore will I change their glory into shame. [8] They eat up the sin of My people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. [9] And it shall be: like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. [10] For they shall eat and not have enough; they shall commit whoredom and shall not increase, because they have left off taking heed of the LORD. [11] "Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. [12] My people ask counsel from 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 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. [14] I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery; for the men themselves consort with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: Therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall. [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.' [16] For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer; now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. [17] "Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone. [18] Their drink is sour; they have committed whoredom continually; her rulers with shame do love, 'Give ye.' [19] The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.