Hosea 4

The LORD Brings Charges Against Israel

1 Hear the word of the LORD, people of Israel, because the LORD got a case against the people living in the land. There is no faithfulness, no real love, and no knowledge of God anywhere.

2 All you see is lying, stealing, murder, cheating, and sleeping around. Violence on top of violence, blood on top of blood.

3 That is why the land is drying up, everybody in it is wasting away, even the wild animals, birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea are dying.

Israel Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge

4 Do not let anybody argue or try to correct, because your people act like they fighting the priest.

5 You stumble in broad daylight, and the prophets stumble with you at night, and I will wipe out your mother.

6 My people are getting destroyed because they do not know Me. Since you rejected knowledge, I am rejecting you as My priest. Since you forgot the law of your God, I am forgetting your children too.

7 The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me. They traded My glory for shame.

8 They feed off the sins of My people and get paid off their guilt.

9 So it is going to be like priest, like people. I will punish them both for their ways and pay them back for what they have done.

10 They will eat but never be satisfied, sleep around but never multiply, because they stopped paying attention to the LORD.

Sex, Wine, and Idols

11 Prostitution, wine, and new wine take over the heart.

12 My people asking wooden idols for advice and letting sticks tell them their future. A spirit of prostitution got them lost, they unfaithful to their God.

13 They sacrifice on mountaintops, burn incense on hills, under oak trees and shade trees, because it feels good out there. That is why your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law sleep around.

14 I will not punish your daughters for prostituting themselves or your daughters-in-law for cheating, because the men are doing the same thing, running with prostitutes and sacrificing with temple girls. A people with no understanding is headed for destruction.

A Warning to Israel and Judah

15 Even if you, Israel, act wild, do not let Judah fall into it too. Do not go up to Gilgal or Beth Aven, do not swear “as the LORD lives.”

16 Israel stubborn like a hard-headed cow. How can the LORD feed them now like lambs in open fields,

17 Ephraim is locked in with idols, leave him alone.

18 When they finish drinking, they jump into prostitution. Their leaders love disgrace more than honor.

19 The wind will wrap them up in its wings, and they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.