12 My people (A)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 [a]from their God.
13 They offer sacrifices on the (B)tops of the mountains
And [b](C)burn incense on the hills,
(D)Under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
Because their shade is pleasant.
Therefore your daughters play the prostitute,
And your [c]brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute,
Or your [d]brides when they commit adultery,
Because the men themselves slip away with the prostitutes
And offer sacrifices with (E)temple prostitutes;
So the people without understanding are ruined.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:12 Lit from under
  2. Hosea 4:13 Or offer sacrifices
  3. Hosea 4:13 Or daughters-in-law
  4. Hosea 4:14 Or daughters-in-law

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.(A)
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.(B)
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.(C)

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

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(J)
    and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes(K)
    a people without understanding(L) will come to ruin!(M)

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