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12 My people consult a piece of wood,
    and their divining rod gives them oracles.
For a spirit of prostitution has led them astray,
    and they have prostituted themselves, forsaking their God.(A)
13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains
    and make offerings upon the hills,
under oak, poplar, and terebinth
    because their shade is good.

Therefore your daughters prostitute themselves,
    and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.(B)
14 I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves
    nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery,
for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes
    and sacrifice with female attendants;
thus a people without understanding comes to ruin.(C)

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12 My people seek counsel from their piece of wood,
    and their diviner’s rod[a] speaks to them.
For a spirit of prostitution causes them to go astray;
    in their immorality they desert their God.
13 They offer sacrifices on the mountain tops,
    burning offerings on the hills,
under oaks, poplars, and terebinth[b] trees,
    since their shade is very good.
Therefore your daughters are prostitutes
    and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14 However, I’m not going to punish your daughters
    when they commit prostitution,
nor your daughters-in-law
    when they commit adultery,
because their men are themselves immoral—
    they offer sacrifices with prostitutes.
These people who aren’t discerning will stumble.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:12 Lit. their carved wood
  2. Hosea 4:13 Or great