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Hosea 4
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1Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel;
- for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land:
- “Indeed there is no truth,
- nor goodness,
- nor knowledge of God in the land.
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2There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;
- they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.
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3Therefore the land will mourn,
- and everyone who dwells therein will waste away.
- all living things in her,
- even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky;
- yes, the fish of the sea also die.
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4“Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; For your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.
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5You will stumble in the day,
- and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night;
- and I will destroy your mother.
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6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
- Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you,
- that you may be no priest to me.
- Because you have forgotten your God’s law,
- I will also forget your children.
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7As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me.
- I will change their glory into shame.
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8They feed on the sin of my people,
- and set their heart on their iniquity.
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9It will be, like people, like priest;
- and I will punish them for their ways,
- and will repay them for their deeds.
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10They will eat, and not have enough.
- They will play the prostitute, and will not increase;
- because they have abandoned giving to Yahweh.
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11Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.
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12My people consult with their wooden idol,
- and answer to a stick of wood.
- Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray,
- and they have been unfaithful to their God.
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13They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains,
- and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths,
- because its shade is good.
- Therefore your daughters play the prostitute,
- and your brides commit adultery.
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14I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute,
- nor your brides when they commit adultery;
- because the men consort with prostitutes,
- and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes;
- so the people without understanding will come to ruin.
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15“Though you, Israel, play the prostitute,
- yet don’t let Judah offend;
- and don’t come to Gilgal,
- neither go up to Beth Aven,
- nor swear, ‘As Yahweh lives.’
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16For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer.
- Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow.
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17Ephraim is joined to idols.
- Leave him alone!
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18Their drink has become sour.
- They play the prostitute continually.
- Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.
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19The wind has wrapped her up in its wings;
- and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices.
