the Fourth Week after Easter
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New International Version (1984 Edition)
Hosea 4
The Charge Against Israel
1
Hear the word of the LORD , you Israelites,
because the LORD has a charge to bring
against you who live in the land:
"There is no faithfulness, no love,
no acknowledgment of God in the land.
2 There is only cursing, (F16) lying and murder,
stealing and adultery;
they break all bounds,
and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Because of this the land mourns, (F17)
and all who live in it waste away;
the beasts of the field and the birds of the air
and the fish of the sea are dying.
4 "But let no man bring a charge,
let no man accuse another,
for your people are like those
who bring charges against a priest.
5 You stumble day and night,
and the prophets stumble with you.
So I will destroy your mother-
6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
"Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also reject you as my priests;
because you have ignored the law of your God,
I also will ignore your children.
7 The more the priests increased,
the more they sinned against me;
they exchanged (F18) their (F19) Glory for something disgraceful.
8 They feed on the sins of my people
and relish their wickedness.
9 And it will be: Like people, like priests.
I will punish both of them for their ways
and repay them for their deeds.
10 "They will eat but not have enough; 11 to prostitution, 12 of my people. 13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops 14 "I will not punish your daughters 15 "Though you commit adultery, O Israel, 16 The Israelites are stubborn, 17 Ephraim is joined to idols; 18 Even when their drinks are gone, 19 A whirlwind will sweep them away,
they will engage in prostitution but not increase,
because they have deserted the LORD
to give themselves
to old wine and new,
which take away the understanding
They consult a wooden idol
and are answered by a stick of wood.
A spirit of prostitution leads them astray;
they are unfaithful to their God.
and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak, poplar and terebinth,
where the shade is pleasant.
Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution
and your daughters-in-law to adultery.
when they turn to prostitution,
nor your daughters-in-law
when they commit adultery,
because the men themselves consort with harlots
and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes-
a people without understanding will come to ruin!
let not Judah become guilty.
"Do not go to Gilgal;
do not go up to Beth Aven.
And do not swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives!'
like a stubborn heifer.
How then can the LORD pasture them
like lambs in a meadow?
leave him alone!
they continue their prostitution;
their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.