Hosea 4 Parallel Bible Translations

Hosea 4 ▼
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1 Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, For the LORD has a [legal] case with the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness [no steadfast love, no dependability] or loyalty or kindness Or knowledge of God [from personal experience with Him] in the land. Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.
2 There is [false] swearing of oaths, deception (broken faith), murder, stealing, and adultery; They employ violence, so that one [act of] bloodshed follows closely on another. there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land [continually] mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes [in tragic suffering] Together with the animals of the open country and the birds of the heavens; Even the fish of the sea disappear. Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away. Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away.
4 Yet let no one find fault, nor let any rebuke [others]; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest. “But let no one bring a charge, let no one accuse another, for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.
5 So you will stumble in the daytime, And the [false] prophet will also stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother (Israel). You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother. You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother—
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will]. Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
7 The more they multiplied [in numbers and increased in power], the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame. The more priests there were, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful.
8 They (the priests) feed on the sin offering of My people And set their heart on their wickedness. They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity. They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness.
9 And it shall be: like people, like priest [both are wicked and both will be judged]; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds. And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. And it will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
10 They will eat, but not have enough; They will play the prostitute, but not increase [their descendants], Because they have stopped giving heed to the LORD. They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply, because they have forsaken the LORD to cherish “They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not flourish, because they have deserted the LORD to give themselves
11 Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away the mind and the [spiritual] understanding. whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding. to prostitution; old wine and new wine take away their understanding.
12 My people consult their [lifeless] wooden idol, and their [diviner’s] wand gives them oracles. For a spirit of prostitution has led them astray [morally and spiritually], And they have played the prostitute, withdrawing themselves from their God. My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore. My people consult a wooden idol, and a diviner’s rod speaks to them. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God.
13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, Because the shade is pleasant there. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute And your brides commit adultery. They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your brides commit adultery. They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, where the shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute Or your brides when they commit adultery, For the men themselves slip away with prostitutes, And they offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes [who give their bodies in honor of the idol]. So the people without understanding [stumble and fall and] come to ruin. I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and a people without understanding shall come to ruin. “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 and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes— a people without understanding will come to ruin!
15 Though you, Israel, play the prostitute [by worshiping idols], Do not let Judah become guilty [of the same thing]; And do not go to Gilgal [where idols are worshiped], Or go up to Beth-aven (House of Wickedness), Nor swear [oaths in idolatrous worship, saying], “As the LORD lives!” Though you play the whore, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty. Enter not into Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and swear not, “As the LORD lives.” “Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty. “Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven. And do not swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
16 For Israel is stubborn, Like a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field? Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the LORD now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture? The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the LORD pasture them like lambs in a meadow?
17 Ephraim is joined to idols, So let him alone [to suffer the consequences]. Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone. Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
18 When their liquor is gone [and their drinking parties are over], They habitually go to play the prostitute; Ephraim’s rulers continue to dearly love shame [more than her glory which is the LORD, Israel’s God]. When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring; their rulers dearly love shame. Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution; their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
19 The wind [of God’s relentless wrath] has wrapped up Israel in its wings, And [in captivity] they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices [to calves, to sun, to moon, to stars, and to pagan gods]. A wind has wrapped them in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. A whirlwind will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
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