Add parallel Print Page Options

12 My people consult their piece of wood,[a]
    and their wand makes pronouncements for them,
For the spirit of prostitution has led them astray;
    they prostitute themselves, forsaking their God.
13 On the mountaintops they offer sacrifice
    and on the hills they burn incense,
Beneath oak and poplar and terebinth,
    because of their pleasant shade.[b]
Therefore your daughters prostitute themselves,
    and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters for their prostitution,
    nor your daughters-in-law for their adultery,
Because the men themselves consort with prostitutes,
    and with temple women[c] they offer sacrifice!
Thus a people without understanding comes to ruin.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 4:12 Piece of wood: a derogatory term for an idol. Wand: a sacred wooden object, perhaps some kind of staff, used for divination.
  2. 4:13 The shrines on the “high places” typically had an altar, a grove of trees, and a stone pillar representing a god (Dt 12:2; Jer 2:20).
  3. 4:14 Temple women: plural of Heb. qedesha; the exact import of the term is disputed. See notes on Gn 38:21 and Dt 23:18–19.

12 My people consult a wooden idol,(A)
    and a diviner’s rod speaks to them.(B)
A spirit of prostitution(C) leads them astray;(D)
    they are unfaithful(E) to their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops
    and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak,(F) poplar and terebinth,
    where the shade is pleasant.(G)
Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution(H)
    and your daughters-in-law to adultery.(I)

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 harlots(J)
    and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes(K)
    a people without understanding(L) will come to ruin!(M)

Read full chapter