Hosea 4:1-9 ▼

1 Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land.

2 There is swearing, deception, 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 beasts of the field and the birds of the sky; And also the fish of the sea disappear.

4 Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; For your people are like those who contend with the 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. Because 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 direct their desire toward their iniquity.

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