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
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”
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