Cursing,(A) lying,(B) murder,(C) stealing,(D)
and adultery(E) are rampant;
one act of bloodshed follows another.(F)
For this reason the land mourns,(G)
and everyone who lives in it languishes,
along with the wild animals(H) and the birds of the sky;
even the fish of the sea disappear.(I)
But let no one dispute;(J) let no one argue,
for my case is against you priests.[a][b](K)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:4 Text emended; MT reads argue, and your people are like those contending with a priest
  2. 4:4 Hb obscure

There is only cursing,[a] lying(A) and murder,(B)
    stealing(C) and adultery;(D)
they break all bounds,
    and bloodshed follows bloodshed.(E)
Because of this the land dries up,(F)
    and all who live in it waste away;(G)
the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
    and the fish in the sea are swept away.(H)

“But let no one bring a charge,
    let no one accuse another,
for your people are like those
    who bring charges against a priest.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:2 That is, to pronounce a curse on