Hosea 4

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God's punishments against the sins of the people

Give ear to the word of the Lord, O children of Israel; for the Lord has a cause against the people of this land, because there is no good faith in it, and no mercy and no knowledge of God in the land. 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.
There is cursing and broken faith, violent death and attacks on property, men are untrue in married life, houses are broken into, and there is blood touching blood. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
Because of this the land will be dry, and everyone living in it will be wasted away, with the beasts of the field and the birds of heaven; even the fishes of the sea will be taken away. 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.
Let no man go to law or make protests, for your people are like those who go to law with a priest. Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
You will not be able to keep on your feet by day, and by night the prophet will be falling down with you, and I will give your mother to destruction. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.

and of the priests

Destruction has overtaken my people because they have no knowledge; because you have given up knowledge, I will give you up, so that you will be no priest to me, because you have not kept in mind the law of your God, I will not keep your children in my memory. 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.
Even while they were increasing in number they were sinning against me; I will let their glory be changed into shame. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
The sin of my people is like food to them; and their desire is for their wrongdoing. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
And the priest will be like the people; I will give them punishment for their evil ways, and the reward of their acts. And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
They will have food, but they will not be full; they will be false to me, but they will not be increased, because they no longer give thought to the Lord. 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.
Loose ways and new wine take away wisdom. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

Worship of false gods is given sharp words, and Judah is admonished

My people get knowledge from their tree, and their rod gives them news; for a false spirit is the cause of their wandering, and they have been false to their God. My people ask counsel at 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 under their God.
They make offerings on the tops of mountains, burning perfumes in high places, under trees of every sort, because their shade is good: and so your daughters are given up to loose ways and your brides are false to their husbands. 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.
I will not give punishment to your daughters or your brides for their evil behaviour; for they make themselves separate with loose women, and make offerings with those who are used for sex purposes in the worship of the gods: the people who have no wisdom will be sent away. 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.
Do not you, O Israel, come into error; do not you, O Judah, come to Gilgal, or go up to Beth-aven, or take an oath, By the living Lord. 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.
For Israel is uncontrolled, like a cow which may not be controlled; now will the Lord give them food like a lamb in a wide place. For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
Ephraim is joined to false gods; let him be. Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
Their drink has become bitter; they are completely false; her rulers take pleasure in shame. Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
They are folded in the skirts of the wind; they will be shamed because of their offerings. The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
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