Hosea 4:13-15
New English Translation
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops
and burn offerings on the hills;
they sacrifice[a] under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
because their shade is so pleasant.
As a result, your daughters have become cult prostitutes,
and your daughters-in-law commit adultery!
14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit prostitution,
nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery.
For the men consort with harlots,
they sacrifice with temple prostitutes.
It is true:[b] “A people that lacks understanding will come to ruin!”
Warning to Judah: Do Not Join in Israel’s Apostasy
15 Although you, O Israel, commit adultery,
do not let Judah become guilty!
Do not journey to Gilgal.
Do not go up to Beth Aven.[c]
Do not swear, “As surely as the Lord lives!”
Footnotes
- Hosea 4:13 tn The phrase “they sacrifice” is not repeated in the Hebrew text here but is implied by parallelism; it is provided in the translation for the sake of clarity.
- Hosea 4:14 tn The words “it is true” are supplied in the translation to indicate that this is a conclusion drawn on the preceding behavior (cf. NAB “So must a people”; NRSV “thus a people”; TEV “As the proverb says, ‘A people’”).
- Hosea 4:15 sn Beth Aven means “house of wickedness” in Hebrew; it is a polemic reference to “Bethel,” which means “house of God” (cf. CEV “at sinful Bethel”).
Hosea 4:13-15
New International Version
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.
Footnotes
- Hosea 4:15 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).
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