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13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops.
    They burn incense on the hills, and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,
    because their shade is pleasant.
    That is why your daughters commit fornication,[a]
    and your brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit fornication,
    or your brides when they commit adultery,
    because the men consort with prostitutes
    and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes.
    So the people without understanding will come to ruin.
15 Though you, Israel, practice sexual immorality,
    Judah should not follow your guilty way.
    Do not go to Gilgal.
    Do not go up to Beth Aven.
    Do not swear, “As surely as the Lord lives.”

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:13 The same Hebrew word elsewhere translated sexual immorality or prostitution is used here in reference to unmarried girls, so it is translated fornication.

13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops
    and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak,(A) poplar and terebinth,
    where the shade is pleasant.(B)
Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution(C)
    and your daughters-in-law to adultery.(D)

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(E)
    and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes(F)
    a people without understanding(G) will come to ruin!(H)

15 “Though you, Israel, commit adultery,
    do not let Judah become guilty.

“Do not go to Gilgal;(I)
    do not go up to Beth Aven.[a](J)
    And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:15 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).