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The Idolatry of Israel

11 Wine and new wine
    take away the understanding.
12 My people inquire of a thing of wood,
    and their staff gives them oracles.
For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray,
    and they have left their God to play the harlot.
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 play the harlot,
    and your brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot,
    nor your brides when they commit adultery;
for the men themselves go aside with harlots,
    and sacrifice with cult prostitutes,
and a people without understanding shall come to ruin.

15 Though you play the harlot, O Israel,
    let not Judah become guilty.
Enter not into Gilgal,
    nor go up to Beth-a′ven,
    and swear not, “As the Lord lives.”
16 Like a stubborn heifer,
    Israel is stubborn;
can the Lord now feed them
    like a lamb in a broad pasture?

17 E′phraim is joined to idols,
    let him alone.
18 A band[a] of drunkards, they give themselves to harlotry;
    they love shame more than their glory.[b]
19 A wind has wrapped them[c] in its wings,
    and they shall be ashamed because of their altars.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:18 Cn: Heb uncertain
  2. Hosea 4:18 Cn Compare Gk: Heb of this line uncertain
  3. Hosea 4:19 Heb her
  4. Hosea 4:19 Gk Syr: Heb sacrifices

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