14 “I will not punish your daughters
    when they turn to prostitution,
nor your daughters-in-law
    when they commit adultery,
because the men themselves consort with harlots(A)
    and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes(B)
    a people without understanding(C) will come to ruin!(D)

15 “Though you, Israel, commit adultery,
    do not let Judah become guilty.

“Do not go to Gilgal;(E)
    do not go up to Beth Aven.[a](F)
    And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’(G)
16 The Israelites are stubborn,(H)
    like a stubborn heifer.(I)
How then can the Lord pasture them
    like lambs(J) in a meadow?

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:15 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).

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 (A)ritual harlot.
Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled.

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:15 Lit. House of Idolatry or Wickedness
  2. Hosea 4:16 Lit. a large place