[[Hosea 3|<< Hosea 3]] | [[Hosea|Hosea]] | [[Hosea 5|Hosea 5 >>]] ### Hosea 4 1 HEAR the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because _there_ _is_ no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. ^1 2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood touches blood. ^2 3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwells 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. ^3 4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people _are_ as they that strive with the priest. ^4 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. ^5 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. ^6 7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: _therefore_ will I change their glory into shame. ^7 8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. ^8 9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. ^9 10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD. ^10 11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. ^11 12 ¶ My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declares unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms has caused _them_ to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. ^12 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. ^13 14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people _that_ doth not understand shall fall. ^14 15 ¶ Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, _yet_ let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD lives. ^15 16 For Israel slides back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. ^16 17 Ephraim _is_ joined to idols: let him alone. ^17 18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers _with_ shame do love, Give ye. ^18 19 The wind has bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. ^19