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11     prostitution.

The Idolatry of Israel

Wine and new wine
    take away the understanding.(A)
12 My people consult a piece of wood,
    and their divining rod gives them oracles.
For a spirit of prostitution has led them astray,
    and they have prostituted themselves, forsaking their God.(B)
13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains
    and make offerings upon the hills,
under oak, poplar, and terebinth
    because their shade is good.

Therefore your daughters prostitute themselves,
    and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.(C)
14 I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves
    nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery,
for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes
    and sacrifice with female attendants;
thus a people without understanding comes to ruin.(D)

15 Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel,
    do not let Judah become guilty.
Do not enter into Gilgal
    or go up to Beth-aven,
    and do not swear, “As the Lord lives.”(E)
16 Like a stubborn heifer,
    Israel is stubborn;
can the Lord now feed them
    like a lamb in a broad pasture?(F)

17 Ephraim is joined to idols—
    let him alone.
18 When their drinking is ended, they indulge in sexual orgies;
    they love lewdness more than their glory.[a](G)
19 A wind has wrapped them[b] in its wings,
    and they shall be ashamed because of their altars.[c](H)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.18 Cn Compare Gk: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. 4.19 Heb her
  3. 4.19 Gk Syr: Heb sacrifices

     11 to prostitution;(A)
old wine(B) and new wine
    take away their understanding.(C)
12 My people consult a wooden idol,(D)
    and a diviner’s rod speaks to them.(E)
A spirit of prostitution(F) leads them astray;(G)
    they are unfaithful(H) to their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops
    and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak,(I) poplar and terebinth,
    where the shade is pleasant.(J)
Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution(K)
    and your daughters-in-law to adultery.(L)

14 “I will not punish your daughters
    when they turn to prostitution,
nor your daughters-in-law
    when they commit adultery,
because the men themselves consort with harlots(M)
    and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes(N)
    a people without understanding(O) will come to ruin!(P)

15 “Though you, Israel, commit adultery,
    do not let Judah become guilty.

“Do not go to Gilgal;(Q)
    do not go up to Beth Aven.[a](R)
    And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’(S)
16 The Israelites are stubborn,(T)
    like a stubborn heifer.(U)
How then can the Lord pasture them
    like lambs(V) in a meadow?
17 Ephraim is joined to idols;
    leave him alone!
18 Even when their drinks are gone,
    they continue their prostitution;
    their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
19 A whirlwind(W) will sweep them away,
    and their sacrifices will bring them shame.(X)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:15 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).