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13 They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops.
    They burn offerings on the hills.
They worship under oak, poplar and terebinth trees.
    The trees provide plenty of shade.
So your daughters become prostitutes.
    And your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

14 “I will not punish your daughters
    when they become prostitutes.
I will not judge your daughters-in-law
    when they commit adultery.
After all, the men themselves have sex with sinful women.
    They offer sacrifices where temple prostitutes earn their living.
    People who can’t understand will be destroyed!

15 “Israel, you are not faithful to me.
    But I do not want Judah to become guilty too.

“My people, do not go to Gilgal to offer sacrifices.
    Do not go up to Bethel to worship other gods.
When you make a promise, do not say,
    ‘You can be sure that the Lord is alive.’

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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).