Hosea 4:7-19

New King James Version

⁷“The more they increased,
The more they sinned against Me;
^(A)I^[a] will change ^[b]their glory into shame.
⁸They eat up the sin of My people;
They set their ^[c]heart on their iniquity.
⁹And it shall be: ^(B)like people, like priest.
So I will punish them for their ways,
And ^[d]reward them for their deeds.
¹⁰For ^(C)they shall eat, but not have enough;
They shall commit harlotry, but not increase;
Because they have ceased obeying the Lord.

The Idolatry of Israel

¹¹“Harlotry, wine, and new wine ^(D)enslave the heart.
¹²My people ask counsel from their ^(E)wooden idols,
And their ^[e]staff informs them.
For ^(F)the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray,
And they have played the harlot against their God.
¹³^(G)They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops,
And burn incense on the hills,
Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,
Because their shade is good.
^(H)Therefore your daughters commit harlotry,
And your brides commit adultery.

¹⁴“I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry,
Nor your brides when they commit adultery;
For the men themselves go apart with harlots,
And offer sacrifices with a ^(I)ritual harlot.
Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled.

¹⁵“Though you, Israel, play the harlot,
Let not Judah offend.
^(J)Do not come up to Gilgal,
Nor go up to ^(K)Beth^[f] Aven,
^(L)Nor swear an oath, saying, ‘As the Lord lives’—

¹⁶“For Israel ^(M)is stubborn
Like a stubborn calf;
Now the Lord will let them forage
Like a lamb in ^[g]open country.

¹⁷“Ephraim is joined to idols,
^(N)Let him alone.
¹⁸Their drink ^[h]is rebellion,
They commit harlotry continually.
^(O)Her ^[i]rulers ^[j]dearly love dishonor.
¹⁹^(P)The wind has wrapped her up in its wings,
And ^(Q)they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.