Hosea 4:13–15

13 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 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, 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!’

13 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.

14 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.

15 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.”

13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains,

And burn incense upon the hills,

Under oaks and poplars and elms,

Because the shadow thereof is good:

Therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom,

And your spouses shall commit adultery.

14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom,

Nor your spouses when they commit adultery:

For themselves are separated with whores,

And they sacrifice with harlots:

Therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.

15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot,

Yet let not Judah offend;

And come not ye unto Gilgal,

Neither go ye up to Beth-aven,

Nor swear, The Lord liveth.

13 They offer sacrifices to idols on the mountaintops.

They go up into the hills to burn incense

in the pleasant shade of oaks, poplars, and terebinth trees.

“That is why your daughters turn to prostitution,

and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

14 But why should I punish them

for their prostitution and adultery?

For your men are doing the same thing,

sinning with whores and shrine prostitutes.

O foolish people! You refuse to understand,

so you will be destroyed.

15 “Though you, Israel, are a prostitute,

may Judah not be guilty of such things.

Do not join the false worship at Gilgal or Beth-aven,

and do not take oaths there in the Lord’s name.

13 They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops,

And burn incense on the hills,

Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,

Because their shade is good.

Therefore your daughters commit harlotry,

And your brides commit adultery.

14 “I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry,

Nor your brides when they commit adultery;

For the men themselves go apart with harlots,

And offer sacrifices with a ritual harlot.

Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled.

15 “Though you, Israel, play the harlot,

Let not Judah offend.

Do not come up to Gilgal,

Nor go up to Beth Aven,

Nor swear an oath, saying, ‘As the Lord lives’—

13 They make sacrifices on the tops of the mountains.

They burn offerings on the hills,

under oaks, poplars, and other trees,

because their shade is nice.

So your daughters become prostitutes,

and your daughters-in-law are guilty of adultery.

14 “But I will not punish your daughters

for becoming prostitutes,

nor your daughters-in-law

for their sins of adultery.

I will not punish them,

because the men have sexual relations with prostitutes

and offer sacrifices with the temple prostitutes.

A foolish people will be ruined.

15 “Israel, you act like a prostitute,

but do not be guilty toward the Lord.

Don’t go to Gilgal

or go up to Beth Aven.

Don’t make promises,

saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives …’

13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery. 14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes; and the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown.

15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As Jehovah liveth.

13 they sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oak and poplar and terebinth, because the shade thereof is good; therefore your daughters play the harlot and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. 14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your daughters-in-law for their committing adultery; for they themselves go aside with harlots, and they sacrifice with prostitutes: and the people that doth not understand shall come to ruin. 15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, let not Judah trespass; and come ye not unto Gilgal, neither go up to Beth-aven, nor swear As Jehovah liveth!

13 They offer sacrifices on mountaintops, 

and they burn incense on the hills 

under oaks, poplars, and other trees. 

They think that these trees provide good shade. 

“That is why your daughters become prostitutes, 

and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. 

14 Yet, I will not punish your daughters when they become prostitutes 

or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. 

The men go to prostitutes 

and offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes. 

These foolish people will be trampled. 

15 “Israel, you act like a prostitute. 

Don’t let Judah become guilty too. 

Don’t go to Gilgal. 

Don’t go to Beth Aven. 

Don’t take the oath, ‘As the Lord lives …’ 

13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops,

and they burn offerings on the hills,

and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,

because their shade is pleasant.

And so your daughters act promiscuously

and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

14 I will not punish your daughters

when they act promiscuously

or your daughters-in-law

when they commit adultery,

for the men themselves go off with prostitutes

and make sacrifices with cult prostitutes.

People without discernment are doomed.

15 Israel, if you act promiscuously,

don’t let Judah become guilty!

Do not go to Gilgal

or make a pilgrimage to Beth-aven,

and do not swear an oath: As the Lord lives!

13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains

and make offerings upon the hills,

under oak, poplar, and terebinth

because their shade is good.

Therefore your daughters prostitute themselves,

and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

14 I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves

nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery,

for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes

and sacrifice with female attendants;

thus a people without understanding comes to ruin.

15 Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel,

do not let Judah become guilty.

Do not enter into Gilgal

or go up to Beth-aven,

and do not swear, “As the Lord lives.”

13 On the tops of the mountains they sacrifice,

and on the hills they make offerings,

under oak, poplar, and terebinth,

because their shade is good.

Therefore your daughters play the whore,

and all your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore,

or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery;

because they go aside with whores,

and they sacrifice with temple prostitutes,

a people that does not understand comes to ruin.

15 Even though you, O Israel, are playing the whore,

do not let Judah become guilty;

do not enter Gilgal,

or go up to Beth-aven;

and do not swear,

“As Yahweh lives!”

13 They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops.

They burn offerings on the hills.

They worship under oak, poplar and terebinth trees.

The trees provide plenty of shade.

So your daughters become prostitutes.

And your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

14 “I will not punish your daughters

when they become prostitutes.

I will not judge your daughters-in-law

when they commit adultery.

After all, the men themselves have sex with sinful women.

They offer sacrifices where temple prostitutes earn their living.

People who can’t understand will be destroyed!

15 “Israel, you are not faithful to me.

But I do not want Judah to become guilty too.

“My people, do not go to Gilgal to offer sacrifices.

Do not go up to Bethel to worship other gods.

Do not take an oath and say,

‘You can be sure that the Lord is alive.’