10 (A)They will eat, but not have enough;
They will (B)play the prostitute, but not [a]increase,
Because they (C)gave up devoting themselves to the Lord.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:10 I.e., either in population or wealth
  2. Hosea 4:11 Or Prostitution
  3. Hosea 4:11 Lit heart
  4. Hosea 4:12 Lit from under
  5. Hosea 4:13 Or offer sacrifices
  6. Hosea 4:13 Or daughters-in-law
  7. Hosea 4:14 Or daughters-in-law

10 (A)They shall eat, but not be satisfied;
    they shall play the whore, but not multiply,
because they have forsaken the Lord
    to cherish 11 whoredom, wine, and new wine,
    which (B)take away the understanding.
12 My people (C)inquire of a piece of wood,
    and their walking staff gives them oracles.
For (D)a spirit of whoredom has led them astray,
    and they have left their God to play the whore.
13 (E)They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains
    and burn offerings on the hills,
(F)under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
    because their shade is good.
Therefore your daughters play the whore,
    and your brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore,
    nor your brides when they commit adultery;
for (G)the men themselves go aside with prostitutes
    and sacrifice with (H)cult prostitutes,
and a people (I)without understanding shall come to ruin.

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