Hosea 4

The LORD’s case against the land

1Hear the word of the LORD, people of Israel!
The LORD has a case against those who live in the land:
there is no truthfulness, no faithful love,
and no knowledge of God in the land. 2Cursing and lying, murder and theft and adultery—
they burst every boundary,
and bloodshed follows bloodshed. 3That is why the land mourns
and everyone who lives in it wastes away,
along with the wild animals and birds of the sky.
Even the fish of the sea are swept away. 4“Yet let no one bring a case;
let no one make an accusation.
Your people are like those who bring a case against a priest. 5You will stumble by day,
and the prophet will stumble with you by night.
I will destroy your mother. 6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from serving as my priest.
Because you have forgotten your God’s instruction,
I too will forget your children. 7The more they increased,
the more they sinned against me.
I will exchange their honor for disgrace. 8They feed on my people’s sin
and set their hearts on their guilt. 9It will be the same for people and priest.
I will call them to account for their ways
and repay them for their deeds. 10They will eat but not be satisfied;
they will prostitute themselves but not increase,
because they have abandoned the LORD
and ceased to keep faith with him. 11Prostitution, wine, and new wine
take away understanding.

Worship without understanding

12My people consult a piece of wood;
a stick tells them what to do!
A spirit of prostitution has led them astray,
and they have prostituted themselves, leaving their God. 13They sacrifice on the mountaintops
and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
because their shade is pleasant.
That is why your daughters prostitute themselves
and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. 14I will not punish your daughters for prostitution
or your daughters-in-law for adultery,
for the men themselves go off with prostitutes
and sacrifice with women devoted to a shrine.
A people without understanding comes to ruin. 15Though you prostitute yourself, Israel,
let Judah not become guilty.
Do not go to Gilgal
or go up to Beth-aven.
Do not swear, ‘As the LORD lives!’ 16Israel is stubborn, like a stubborn heifer.
Can the LORD now pasture them
like a lamb in an open meadow? 17Ephraim is bound to idols.
Leave him alone. 18When their drinking is over,
they give themselves to prostitution.
Her rulers dearly love disgrace. 19A wind has wrapped her in its wings,
and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices.”