Hosea 4 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Yahweh’s Contention with Israel

1 Listen ^H8085 to the word ^H1697 of Yahweh ^H3068, O sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478,

For Yahweh ^H3068 has a contention ^H7379 against ^H5973 the inhabitants ^H3427 of the land ^H776,

Because ^H3588 there ^H369 is ^H369 no ^H369 truth ^H571 or [fn]lovingkindness ^H2617

Or knowledge ^H1847 of God ^H430 in the land ^H776.

2 There is swearing ^H422 of oaths ^H422, deception ^H3584, murder ^H7523, stealing ^H1589, and adultery ^H5003.

They break ^H6555 forth in violence so that bloodshed ^H1818 [fn]follows ^H5060 bloodshed ^H1818.

3 Therefore ^H5921 H3651 the land ^H776 mourns ^H56,

And everyone ^H3605 who inhabits ^H3427 it languishes ^H535

Along with the beasts ^H2416 of the field ^H7704 and the birds ^H5775 of the sky ^H8064,

And also ^H1571 the fish ^H1709 of the sea ^H3220 [fn]disappear ^H622.

4 Yet ^H389 let no ^H408 man ^H376 contend ^H7378, and let no ^H408 man ^H376 offer ^H3198 reproof ^H3198;

Indeed, your people ^H5971 are like those who contend ^H7378 with the priest ^H3548.

5 So you will stumble ^H3782 by day ^H3117,

And the prophet ^H5030 also ^H1571 will stumble ^H3782 with you by night ^H3915;

And I will destroy ^H1820 your mother ^H517.

6 My people ^H5971 are destroyed ^H1820 for lack ^H369 of knowledge ^H1847.

Because ^H3588 you have rejected ^H3988 knowledge ^H1847,

I also will reject ^H3988 you from ministering ^H3547 as ^H3547 My priest ^H3547.

Since you have forgotten ^H7911 the law ^H8451 of your God ^H430,

I Myself also ^H1571 will forget ^H7911 your children ^H1121.

7 The more they multiplied ^H7231, the more ^H3651 they sinned ^H2398 against Me;

I will change ^H4171 their glory ^H3519 into disgrace ^H7036.

8 They eat ^H398 the [fn]sin ^H2403 of My people ^H5971

And lift ^H5375 up ^H5375 [fn]their soul ^H5315 toward ^H413 their iniquity ^H5771.

9 And it will be like people ^H5971, like priest ^H3548;

So I will punish ^H6485 them for their ways ^H1870

And cause ^H7725 their deeds ^H4611 to return ^H7725 to them.

10 They will eat ^H398, but not be ^H7646 satisfied ^H7646;

They will play ^H2181 the ^H2181 harlot ^H2181, but not break ^H6555 forth in number,

Because ^H3588 they have [fn]forsaken ^H5800 Yahweh ^H3068 to keep ^H8104 harlotry.

11 Harlotry ^H2184, wine ^H3196, and new ^H8492 wine ^H8492 take ^H3947 away a heart ^H3820 of wisdom.

12 My people ^H5971 ask ^H7592 their wooden ^H6086 idol, and their diviner’s wand ^H4731 declares ^H5046 to them;

For a spirit ^H7307 of harlotry ^H2183 has led ^H8582 them astray ^H8582,

And they have played ^H2181 the ^H2181 harlot ^H2181, departing [fn]from their God ^H430.

13 They offer ^H2076 sacrifices ^H2076 on the tops ^H7218 of the mountains ^H2022

And [fn]burn ^H6999 incense ^H6999 on the hills ^H1389,

Under ^H8478 oak ^H437, poplar ^H3839, and terebinth ^H424

Because ^H3588 their shade ^H6738 is good ^H2896.

Therefore ^H5921 H3651 your daughters ^H1323 play ^H2181 the ^H2181 harlot ^H2181,

And your [fn]brides ^H3618 commit ^H5003 adultery ^H5003.

14 I will not punish ^H6485 your daughters ^H1323 when ^H3588 they play ^H2181 the ^H2181 harlot ^H2181

Or your [fn]brides ^H3618 when ^H3588 they commit ^H5003 adultery ^H5003,

For the men themselves ^H1992 go ^H6504 apart ^H6504 with harlots ^H2181

And offer ^H2076 sacrifices ^H2076 with cult ^H6945 prostitutes ^H6945;

So the people ^H5971 without ^H3808 understanding ^H995 are [fn]ruined ^H3832.

15 Though ^H518 you, Israel ^H3478, play ^H2181 the ^H2181 harlot ^H2181,

Do not let Judah ^H3063 become ^H816 guilty ^H816;

Also do not go ^H935 to Gilgal ^H1537

Nor go ^H5927 up ^H5927 to Beth-aven ^H1007

And swear ^H7650 the ^H7650 oath ^H7650:

“As Yahweh ^H3068 lives ^H2416!”

16 Since ^H3588 Israel ^H3478 is stubborn ^H5637

Like a stubborn ^H5637 heifer ^H6510,

[fn]Can Yahweh ^H3068 now ^H6258 feed ^H7462 them

Like a lamb ^H3532 in a large ^H4800 field ^H4800?

17 Ephraim ^H669 is joined ^H2266 to idols ^H6091;

Let ^H5117 him alone ^H5117.

18 Their drink ^H5435 gone ^H5493;

They play ^H2181 the ^H2181 harlot ^H2181 continually ^H2181;

Their [fn]rulers ^H4043 dearly ^H157 love ^H157 disgrace ^H7036.

19 The wind ^H7307 binds ^H6887 them up ^H6887 in its wings ^H3671,

And they will be ^H954 ashamed ^H954 because ^H4480 of their sacrifices ^H2077.