Chapter 4

God’s Controversy with Israel

1 aListen to the word of the Lord, O sons of Israel,

For the Lord has a bcase against the inhabitants of the land,

Because there is cno 1faithfulness or 2kindness

Or dknowledge of God in the land.

2 There is aswearing, bdeception, cmurder, dstealing and eadultery.

They employ violence, so that fbloodshed 1follows bloodshed.

3 Therefore the land amourns,

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 1disappear.

4 Yet let no one 1afind fault, and let none offer reproof;

For your people are like those who bcontend with the priest.

5 So you will astumble by day,

And the prophet also will stumble with you by night;

And I will destroy your bmother.

6 aMy people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Because you have brejected knowledge,

I also will creject you from being My priest.

Since you have dforgotten the elaw of your God,

I also will forget your children.

7 The more they amultiplied, the more they sinned against Me;

I will bchange their glory into shame.

8 They afeed on the 1sin of My people

And bdirect their desire toward their iniquity.

9 And it will be, like people, alike priest;

So I will bpunish them for their ways

And repay them for their deeds.

10 aThey will eat, but not have enough;

They will bplay the harlot, but not increase,

Because they have 1cstopped giving heed to the Lord.

11 Harlotry, awine and new wine take away the 1understanding.

12 My people aconsult their wooden idol, and their diviner’s wand informs them;

For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray,

And they have played the harlot, departing 1from their God.

13 They offer sacrifices on the atops of the mountains

And 1bburn incense on the hills,

cUnder oak, poplar and terebinth,

Because their shade is pleasant.

Therefore your daughters play the harlot

And your 2brides commit adultery.

14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot

Or your 1brides when they commit adultery,

For the men themselves go apart with harlots

And offer sacrifices with atemple prostitutes;

So the people without understanding are 2ruined.

15 Though you, Israel, play the harlot,

Do not let Judah become guilty;

Also do not go to aGilgal,

Or go up to Beth-aven

bAnd take the oath:

“As the Lord lives!”

16 Since Israel is astubborn

Like a stubborn heifer,

1Can the Lord now bpasture them

Like a lamb in a large field?

17 Ephraim is joined to aidols;

bLet him alone.

18 Their liquor gone,

They play the harlot continually;

aTheir 1rulers dearly love shame.

19 aThe wind wraps them in its wings,

And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.