Hosea 4:1-9 ▼

1 Listen to the word of the LORD, you sons of Israel, Because the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, For there is no faithfulness, nor loyalty, Nor knowledge of God in the land.

2 There is oath-taking, denial, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.

3 Therefore the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes Along with the animals of the field and the birds of the sky, And even the fish of the sea disappear.

4 Yet let no one find fault, and let no one rebuke; For your people are like those who contend with a priest.

5 So you will stumble by day, And the prophet also will stumble with you by night; And I will destroy your mother.

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will 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 long for their wrongdoing.

9 And it will be, like people, like priest; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.