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10 (A)They will eat, but not be satisfied;
They will (B)play the harlot, but not break forth in number,
Because they have [a](C)forsaken Yahweh to keep harlotry.

11 Harlotry, (D)wine, and new wine take away a heart of wisdom.
12 My people (E)ask their wooden idol, and their diviner’s wand declares to them;
For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray,
And they have played the harlot, departing [b]from their God.
13 They offer sacrifices on the (F)tops of the mountains
And [c](G)burn incense on the hills,
(H)Under oak, poplar, and terebinth
Because their shade is good.
Therefore your daughters play the harlot,
And your [d]brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot
Or your [e]brides when they commit adultery,
For the men themselves go apart with harlots
And offer sacrifices with (I)cult prostitutes;
So the people without understanding are [f]ruined.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:10 Or forsaken Yahweh to practice (v 11) harlotry; lit forsaken giving heed
  2. Hosea 4:12 Lit from under
  3. Hosea 4:13 Or offer sacrifices
  4. Hosea 4:13 Or daughters-in-law
  5. Hosea 4:14 Or daughters-in-law
  6. Hosea 4:14 Lit thrust down

10 They will eat, but not be satisfied.
    They will engage in sexual immorality, but not increase.
    This will take place because they have abandoned the Lord to devote themselves to 11 sexual sin.[a]
    Wine and new wine take away their understanding.[b]
12 My people consult their wooden idol,
    and their fortunetellers wand gives them information,
    because a promiscuous spirit has led them astray,
    and they behave like a whore instead of following their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops.
    They burn incense on the hills, and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,
    because their shade is pleasant.
    That is why your daughters commit fornication,[c]
    and your brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit fornication,
    or your brides when they commit adultery,
    because the men consort with prostitutes
    and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes.
    So the people without understanding will come to ruin.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:11 Or prostitution
  2. Hosea 4:11 The proper dividing point between verses 10 and 11 is uncertain. Though the words sexual sin are in verse 11 in the Hebrew text, these words belong with verse 10.
  3. Hosea 4:13 The same Hebrew word elsewhere translated sexual immorality or prostitution is used here in reference to unmarried girls, so it is translated fornication.