Hosea 4:11-19
King James Version
11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
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 Bethaven, nor swear, The Lord liveth.
16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
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Hosea 4:11-19
New King James Version
The Idolatry of Israel
11 “Harlotry, wine, and new wine (A)enslave the heart.
12 My people ask counsel from their (B)wooden idols,
And their [a]staff informs them.
For (C)the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray,
And they have played the harlot against their God.
13 (D)They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops,
And burn incense on the hills,
Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,
Because their shade is good.
(E)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 (F)ritual harlot.
Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled.
15 “Though you, Israel, play the harlot,
Let not Judah offend.
(G)Do not come up to Gilgal,
Nor go up to (H)Beth[b] Aven,
(I)Nor swear an oath, saying, ‘As the Lord lives’—
16 “For Israel (J)is stubborn
Like a stubborn calf;
Now the Lord will let them forage
Like a lamb in [c]open country.
17 “Ephraim is joined to idols,
(K)Let him alone.
18 Their drink [d]is rebellion,
They commit harlotry continually.
(L)Her [e]rulers [f]dearly love dishonor.
19 (M)The wind has wrapped her up in its wings,
And (N)they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
Footnotes
- Hosea 4:12 Diviner’s rod
- Hosea 4:15 Lit. House of Idolatry or Wickedness
- Hosea 4:16 Lit. a large place
- Hosea 4:18 Or has turned aside
- Hosea 4:18 Lit. shields
- Hosea 4:18 Heb. difficult; a Jewish tradition shamefully love, ‘Give!’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
