Hosea 4 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

God’s Controversy with Israel

1 Listen ^H8085 to the word ^H1697 of the LORD ^H3068, you sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478,

Because ^H3588 the LORD ^H3068 has a case ^H7379 against ^H5973 the inhabitants ^H3427 of the land ^H776,

For there ^H369 is ^H369 no ^H369 [fn]faithfulness ^H571, nor ^H369 [fn]loyalty ^H2617,

Nor ^H369 knowledge ^H1847 of God ^H430 in the land ^H776.

2 There is oath-taking ^H422, [fn]denial ^H3584, murder ^H7523, stealing ^H1589, and adultery ^H5003.

They employ ^H6555 violence ^H6555, so that bloodshed ^H1818 [fn]follows ^H5060 bloodshed ^H1818.

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

And everyone ^H3605 who lives ^H3427 in it languishes ^H535

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

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

4 Yet ^H389 let no ^H408 one ^H376 [fn]find ^H7378 fault ^H7378, and let no ^H408 one ^H376 rebuke ^H3198;

For your people ^H5971 are like those who contend ^H7378 with a 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.

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

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

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

I 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 shame ^H7036.

8 They feed ^H398 on the [fn]sin ^H2403 of My people ^H5971,

And long ^H5375 H5315 for their wrongdoing ^H5771.

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

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

And repay ^H7725 them for their deeds ^H4611.

10 They will eat ^H398, but not have ^H7646 enough ^H7646;

They will play ^H2181 the ^H2181 prostitute ^H2181, but not [fn]increase ^H6555,

Because ^H3588 they gave ^H5800 up ^H5800 devoting ^H8104 themselves to the LORD ^H3068.

11 [fn]Infidelity ^H2184, wine ^H3196, and new ^H8492 wine ^H8492 take ^H3947 away the [fn]understanding ^H3820.

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

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

And they have been ^H2181 unfaithful ^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 pleasant ^H2896.

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

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

Because ^H3588 the men themselves ^H1992 slip ^H6504 away ^H6504 with the prostitutes ^H2185

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

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

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

Judah ^H3063 must not become ^H816 guilty ^H816;

Also you are not to go ^H935 to Gilgal ^H1537,

Nor ^H408 go ^H5927 up ^H5927 to Beth-aven ^H1007

And take ^H7650 the ^H7650 oath ^H7650:

“As the LORD ^H3068 lives ^H2416!”

16 Since ^H3588 Israel ^H3478 is stubborn ^H5637

Like a stubborn ^H5637 cow ^H6510,

[fn]Will the LORD ^H3068 now ^H6258 pasture ^H7462 them

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

17 Ephraim ^H669 is allied ^H2266 with idols ^H6091;

Leave ^H5117 him alone ^H5117.

18 Their liquor ^H5435 is gone ^H5493,

They prostitute ^H2181 themselves continually ^H2181;

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

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

And they will be [fn]put ^H954 to ^H954 shame ^H954 because ^H4480 of their sacrifices ^H2077.