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12     My people consult with their wooden idol,
    and answer to a stick of wood.
Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray,
    and they have been unfaithful to their God.
13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains,
    and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths,
    because its shade is good.
Therefore your daughters play the prostitute,
    and your brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute,
    nor your brides when they commit adultery;
because the men consort with prostitutes,
    and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes;
    so the people without understanding will come to ruin.

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12 My people (A)consult their wooden idol, and their diviner’s wand informs them;
For a spirit of infidelity has led them astray,
And they have been unfaithful, departing [a]from their God.
13 They offer sacrifices on the (B)tops of the mountains
And [b](C)burn incense on the hills,
(D)Under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
Because their shade is pleasant.
Therefore your daughters play the prostitute,
And your [c]brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute,
Or your [d]brides when they commit adultery,
Because the men themselves slip away with the prostitutes
And offer sacrifices with (E)temple prostitutes;
So the people without understanding are ruined.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:12 Lit from under
  2. Hosea 4:13 Or offer sacrifices
  3. Hosea 4:13 Or daughters-in-law
  4. Hosea 4:14 Or daughters-in-law