Hosea 4:1-9 ▼

1 Hear the word of the LORD, Israelites, for the LORD has a dispute with the inhabitants of the land: There is no fidelity, no loyalty, no knowledge of God in the land.

2 Swearing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery break out; bloodshed follows bloodshed.

3 Therefore the land dries up, and everything that dwells in it languishes: The beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and even the fish of the sea perish.

4 But let no one accuse, let no one rebuke; with you is my dispute, priest!

5 You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will stumble with you at night; I will make an end of your mother.

6 My people are ruined for lack of knowledge! Since you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest; Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

7 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against me, I will change their glory into shame.

8 They feed on the sin of my people, and are greedy for their iniquity.

9 Like people, like priest: I will punish them for their ways, and repay them for their deeds.