Warnings for Israel and Judah

15 Israel, if you act promiscuously,
don’t let Judah become guilty!
Do not go to Gilgal(A)
or make a pilgrimage to Beth-aven,[a](B)
and do not swear an oath: As the Lord lives!(C)
16 For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow.(D)
Can the Lord now shepherd them
like a lamb in an open meadow?(E)
17 Ephraim is attached to idols;(F)
leave him alone!(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:15 = House of Wickedness

15 Even though you, O Israel, are playing the whore,
    do not let Judah become guilty;
do not enter Gilgal,
    or go up to Beth-aven;
and do not swear,
    As Yahweh lives!”[a]
16 Indeed, like a stubborn heifer,
    Israel is stubborn;
Now Yahweh will feed them,
    like a lamb in broad pasture.[b]
17 Ephraim is joined to idols;
    let him alone.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:15 Literally “the life of Yahweh”
  2. Hosea 4:16 Or “Can Yahweh feed them, like a lamb in broad pasture?”