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13     They offer sacrifices on the mountain tops
        and burn incense on the hills,
    Gathering under sacred trees like oaks, poplars, and terebinths,
        relaxing in their comforting shade.
    This is why your own daughters become prostitutes
        and your daughters-in-law commit adultery!
14     I won’t punish your daughters for their prostitution
        or your daughters-in-law for their adultery,
    Because you men are visiting common prostitutes yourselves
        and offering sacrifices with cultic prostitutes.
    My people have no understanding, and they’re being ruined!

15     But even though Israel is being so unfaithful,
        don’t you become guilty, too, Judah!
        Don’t go to Gilgal, and don’t go to that “house of wickedness,” Beth-aven.
        Don’t swear by My name while you’re worshiping other gods!

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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).