Hosea 4:11–19

11 to prostitution;u

old winev and new wine

take away their understanding.w

12 My people consult a wooden idol,x

and a diviner’s rod speaks to them.y

A spirit of prostitutionz leads them astray;a

they are unfaithfulb to their God.

13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops

and burn offerings on the hills,

under oak,c poplar and terebinth,

where the shade is pleasant.d

Therefore your daughters turn to prostitutione

and your daughters-in-law to adultery.f

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 harlotsg

and sacrifice with shrine prostitutesh—

a people without understandingi will come to ruin!j

15 “Though you, Israel, commit adultery,

do not let Judah become guilty.

“Do not go to Gilgal;k

do not go up to Beth Aven.c l

And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’m

16 The Israelites are stubborn,n

like a stubborn heifer.o

How then can the Lord pasture them

like lambsp in a meadow?

17 Ephraim is joined to idols;

leave him alone!

18 Even when their drinks are gone,

they continue their prostitution;

their rulers dearly love shameful ways.

19 A whirlwindq will sweep them away,

and their sacrifices will bring them shame.r