11 [a]Infidelity, (A)wine, and new wine take away the [b]understanding.
12 My people (B)consult their wooden idol, and their diviner’s wand informs them;
For a spirit of infidelity has led them astray,
And they have been unfaithful, departing [c]from their God.
13 They offer sacrifices on the (C)tops of the mountains
And [d](D)burn incense on the hills,
(E)Under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
Because their shade is pleasant.
Therefore your daughters play the prostitute,
And your [e]brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute,
Or your [f]brides when they commit adultery,
Because the men themselves slip away with the prostitutes
And offer sacrifices with (F)temple prostitutes;
So the people without understanding are ruined.

15 Though you, Israel, play the prostitute,
Judah must not become guilty;
Also you are not to go to (G)Gilgal,
Nor go up to Beth-aven
(H)And take the oath:
“As the Lord lives!”
16 Since Israel is (I)stubborn
Like a stubborn cow,
[g]Will the Lord now (J)pasture them
Like a lamb in a large field?
17 Ephraim is allied with (K)idols;
(L)Leave him alone.
18 Their liquor is gone,
They prostitute themselves continually;
[h](M)Their [i]rulers dearly love shame.
19 (N)The wind wraps them in its wings,
And they will be [j]put to shame because of their sacrifices.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:11 Or Prostitution
  2. Hosea 4:11 Lit heart
  3. Hosea 4:12 Lit from under
  4. Hosea 4:13 Or offer sacrifices
  5. Hosea 4:13 Or daughters-in-law
  6. Hosea 4:14 Or daughters-in-law
  7. Hosea 4:16 Or The Lord will now pasture...field.
  8. Hosea 4:18 Another reading is They dearly love the shame of gifts
  9. Hosea 4:18 Lit shields
  10. Hosea 4:19 Or ashamed

     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).