Add parallel Print Page Options

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!”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:12 tn Heb “adultery.” The adjective “spiritual” is supplied in the translation to clarify that apostasy is meant here.
  2. 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.
  3. 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’”).

12 My people (A)inquire of a piece of wood,
    and their walking staff gives them oracles.
For (B)a spirit of whoredom has led them astray,
    and they have left their God to play the whore.
13 (C)They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains
    and burn offerings on the hills,
(D)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 (E)the men themselves go aside with prostitutes
    and sacrifice with (F)cult prostitutes,
and a people (G)without understanding shall come to ruin.

Read full chapter