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Hosea 4:12-14
New English Translation
Hosea 4:12-14
New English Translation
12 They consult their wooden idols,
and their diviner’s staff answers with an oracle.
The wind of prostitution blows them astray;
they commit spiritual adultery[a] against their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops
and burn offerings on the hills;
they sacrifice[b] under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
because their shade is so pleasant.
As a result, your daughters have become cult prostitutes,
and your daughters-in-law commit adultery!
14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit prostitution,
nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery.
For the men consort with harlots,
they sacrifice with temple prostitutes.
It is true:[c] “A people that lacks understanding will come to ruin!”
Footnotes
- Hosea 4:12 tn Heb “adultery.” The adjective “spiritual” is supplied in the translation to clarify that apostasy is meant here.
- Hosea 4:13 tn The phrase “they sacrifice” is not repeated in the Hebrew text here but is implied by parallelism; it is provided in the translation for the sake of clarity.
- Hosea 4:14 tn The words “it is true” are supplied in the translation to indicate that this is a conclusion drawn on the preceding behavior (cf. NAB “So must a people”; NRSV “thus a people”; TEV “As the proverb says, ‘A people’”).
Hosea 4:12-14
Lexham English Bible
Hosea 4:12-14
Lexham English Bible
12 My people,
consult their wooden idols,[a]
and their divining rod gives them oracles;
because a spirit of whoredom led them astray,
and they played the whore from under their God.[b]
13 On the tops of the mountains they sacrifice,
and on the hills they make offerings,
under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
because their[c] shade is good.
Therefore your daughters play the whore,
and all your daughters-in-law[d] commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters[e] when they play the whore,
or your daughters-in-law[f] when they commit adultery;
because they go aside with whores,
and they sacrifice with temple prostitutes,
a people that does not understand comes to ruin.
Footnotes
- Hosea 4:12 Literally “their wood”
- Hosea 4:12 That is, “they played the whore forsaking their God”; See Ezek 23:5
- Hosea 4:13 Hebrew “its”
- Hosea 4:13 Or “brides”
- Hosea 4:14 Literally “I will not visit sins upon your daughters”
- Hosea 4:14 Or “brides”
Hosea 4:12-14
New International Version
Hosea 4:12-14
New International Version
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)
New English Translation (NET)
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Lexham English Bible (LEB)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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