4Hosea 4

Israel Is Unfaithful

1Israel, listen as the Lord accuses everyone in the land! No one is faithful or loyal or truly cares about God.Select Hosea 4:1

2Cursing, dishonesty, murder, robbery, unfaithfulness— these happen all the time. Violence is everywhere.Select Hosea 4:2

3And so your land is a desert. Every living creature is dying— people and wild animals, birds and fish.Select Hosea 4:3

The Warns the Priests

4Don't accuse just anyone! Not everyone is at fault. My case is against you, the priests.Select Hosea 4:4

5You and the prophets will stumble day and night; I'll silence your mothers.Select Hosea 4:5

6You priests have rejected me, and my people are destroyed by refusing to obey. Now I'll reject you and forget your children, because you have forgotten my Law.Select Hosea 4:6

7By adding more of you priests, you multiply the number of people who sin. Now I'll change your pride into shame.Select Hosea 4:7

8You encourage others to sin, so you can stuff yourselves on their sin offerings.Select Hosea 4:8

9That's why I will punish the people for their deeds, just as I will punish you priests.Select Hosea 4:9

10Their food won't satisfy, and having sex at pagan shrines won't produce children. My people have rebelledSelect Hosea 4:10

11and have been unfaithful to me, their Lord. My people, you are foolish because of too much pleasure and too much wine.Select Hosea 4:11

God Condemns Israel's Idolatry

12You expect wooden idols and other objects of wood to give you advice. Lusting for sex at pagan shrines has made you unfaithful to me, your God.Select Hosea 4:12

13You offer sacrifices on mountaintops and hills, under oak trees, and wherever good shade is found. Your own daughters and daughters-in-law sell themselves for sex.Select Hosea 4:13

14But I won't punish them. You men are to blame, because you go to prostitutes and offer sacrifices with them at pagan shrines. Your own foolishness will lead to your ruin.Select Hosea 4:14

15Israel, you are unfaithful, but don't lead Judah to sin. Stop worshiping at Gilgal or at sinful Bethel. And quit making promises in my name—the name of the living Lord.Select Hosea 4:15

16You are nothing more than a stubborn cow— so stubborn that I, the Lord, cannot feed you like lambs in an open pasture.Select Hosea 4:16

17You people of Israel are charmed by idols. Leave those people alone!Select Hosea 4:17

18You get drunk, then sleep with prostitutes; you would rather be vulgar than lead a decent life.Select Hosea 4:18

19And so you will be swept away in a whirlwind for sacrificing to idols.Select Hosea 4:19