Hosea 4:1-9 ▼

1 HEAR the word of the LORD, O children of Israel; for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no justice or mercy or knowledge of God in the land;

2 But cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they have increased and they mix blood with blood.

3 Therefore the land shall mourn, and all its inhabitants shall languish, even the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air; and the fish of the sea also shall perish.

4 Because none judges nor reproves another, for your people is engaged in controversy like a priest.

5 Therefore you shall stumble in the day, and the prophet of your people also shall stumble in the night, and yet your mother keeps silence.

6 My people are silent for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from the priesthood; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

7 According to the multitude of them, so they have sinned against me; they changed their honor into shame.

8 They devoured my people unmercifully, and they have engulfed themselves in their iniquity.

9 The priest has become common like the people; and I will punish them for their ways and reward them for their deeds.