1 Heb “sons of Israel” (so ); “children of Israel”; , “people of Israel.”
2 The noun רִיב (riv, “dispute, lawsuit”) is used in two contexts: (1) nonlegal contexts: (a) “dispute” between individuals (e.g., Gen 13:7; Isa 58:1; Jer 15:10) or (b) “brawl; quarrel” between people (e.g., Exod 17:7; Deut 25:1); and (2) legal contexts: (a) “lawsuit; legal process” (e.g., Exod 23:3–6; Deut 19:17; 21:5; Ezek 44:24; Ps 35:23), (b) “lawsuit; legal case” (e.g., Deut 1:12; 17:8; Prov 18:17; 25:9), and (c) God’s “lawsuit” on behalf of a person or against his own people (Hos 4:1; 12:3; Mic 6:2; רִיב). The term in Hosea refers to a covenant lawsuit in which Yahweh the suzerain lodges a legal case against his disobedient vassal, accusing Israel and Judah of breach of covenant which will elicit the covenant curses.
3 Heb “with the inhabitants of the land” (so ); , , “against the inhabitants of the land.”
4 Heb “there is no truthfulness nor loyalty nor knowledge of God in the land.” Here “knowledge of God” refers to recognition of his authority and obedience to his will.
5 Heb “they break out and bloodshed touches bloodshed.” The Hebrew term פָּרַץ (parats, “to break out”) refers to violent and wicked actions ( 829 פָּרַץ 7; פרץ 6.c). It is used elsewhere in a concrete sense to describe breaking through physical barriers. Here it is used figuratively to describe breaking moral barriers and restraints (cf. “Crimes increase, and there is one murder after another”).
6 Or “languish” (so , ); “waste away.”
7 Heb “the beasts of the field” (so , ).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel,

for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.

There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,

and no knowledge of God in the land;

there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;

they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Therefore the land mourns,

and all who dwell in it languish,

and also the beasts of the field

and the birds of the heavens,

and even the fish of the sea are taken away.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites,

because the Lord has a charge to bring

against you who live in the land:

“There is no faithfulness, no love,

no acknowledgment of God in the land.

There is only cursing, lying and murder,

stealing and adultery;

they break all bounds,

and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Because of this the land dries up,

and all who live in it waste away;

the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky

and the fish in the sea are swept away.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Hear the word of the Lord, people of Israel,

for the Lord has a case

against the inhabitants of the land:

There is no truth, no faithful love,

and no knowledge of God in the land!

Cursing, lying, murder, stealing,

and adultery are rampant;

one act of bloodshed follows another.

For this reason the land mourns,

and everyone who lives in it languishes,

along with the wild animals and the birds of the sky;

even the fish of the sea disappear.

NLTNew Living Translation

Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel!

The Lord has brought charges against you, saying:

“There is no faithfulness, no kindness,

no knowledge of God in your land.

You make vows and break them;

you kill and steal and commit adultery.

There is violence everywhere—

one murder after another.

That is why your land is in mourning,

and everyone is wasting away.

Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky,

and the fish of the sea are disappearing.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Hear the word of Yahweh, O children of Israel,

for Yahweh has an indictment against the inhabitants of the land.

There is no faithfulness or loyalty,

there is no knowledge of God in the land.

Swearing and lying,

murdering and stealing,

and adultery break out,

and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Therefore the land mourns,

and all those living in it languish

with the animals of the field,

and the birds of the heaven,

and even the fish of the sea

are being swept away.

KJV 1900King James Version

Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel:

For the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land,

Because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out,

And blood toucheth blood.

Therefore shall the land mourn,

And every one that dwelleth therein shall languish,

With the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven;

Yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

Public Domain