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13 They offer sacrifices on mountaintops,
    and they burn incense on the hills
        under oaks, poplars, and other trees.
            They think that these trees provide good shade.

“That is why your daughters become prostitutes,
    and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14 Yet, I will not punish your daughters when they become prostitutes
    or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery.
        The men go to prostitutes
            and offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes.
                These foolish people will be trampled.

15 “Israel, you act like a prostitute.
    Don’t let Judah become guilty too.
        Don’t go to Gilgal.
            Don’t go to Beth Aven.
                Don’t take the oath, ‘As Yahweh lives. . . .’

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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).