31 Heb “adulterers.” But spiritual adultery is clearly meant as also in 3:8–9; 9:2, and probably also 5:7.
32 For the word translated “They live … lives” see usage in Jer 8:6. For the idea of “misusing” their power (Heb “their power is not right” i.e., used in the wrong way) see 2 Kgs 7:9; 17:9. In the original text this line (really two lines in the Hebrew poetry) are at the end of the verse. However, this places the antecedent too far away and could lead to confusion. The lines have been rearranged to avoid such confusion.
33 For the use of this verb see 12:4 and the note there.
34 The translation follows the majority of Hebrew (מֵאָלָה, me’alah) rather than the Greek and version and a few Hebrew which read “because of these” (מֵאֵלֶּה [me’elleh], referring to the people unfaithful to him). The curse is, of course, the covenant curse. See Deut 29:20–21 (29:19–20 ) and for the specific curse see Deut 28:23–24. The curse is appropriate since their “adultery” lay in attributing their fertility to the god Baal (see Hos 2:9–13 (2:11–15 ) and violating the covenant (see Hos 4:1–3).

In other versions

For the land is full of adulterers;

because of the curse the land mourns,

and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up.

Their course is evil,

and their might is not right.

The land is full of adulterers;

because of the curse the land lies parched

and the pastures in the wilderness are withered.

The prophets follow an evil course

and use their power unjustly.

For the land is full of adulterers;

the land mourns because of the curse,

and the grazing lands in the wilderness have dried up.

Their way of life has become evil,

and their power is not rightly used

For the land is full of adultery,

and it lies under a curse.

The land itself is in mourning—

its wilderness pastures are dried up.

For they all do evil

and abuse what power they have.

For the land is full of adulterers;

for the land mourns because of a curse.

The pastures of the desert are dry,

and their evil has been their way of running,

and their power is not right.

For the land is full of adulterers;

For because of swearing the land mourneth;

The pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up,

And their course is evil, and their force is not right.

Public Domain