YHWH’s Case Against Israel
Hosea 4Children of Israel, y’all must listen to the word of YHWH,
for YHWH has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land. There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells in it will waste away, with all living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die.“Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest. You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s law, I will also forget your children. As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity. It will be like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds. They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned listening to YHWH. Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding. My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God. They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is good. Therefore y’all’s daughters have become prostitutes, and y’all’s brides commit adultery. I will not punish y’all’s daughters when they become prostitutes, or y’all’s brides when they commit adultery, because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes, so the people without understanding will come to ruin.
“Although you, Israel, play the prostitute, do not let Judah become guilty. And both of y’all must not go to Gilgal, nor up to Beth Aven, And y’all must not swear, ‘As YHWH lives.’ For Israel is stubborn, stubborn like a heifer. Then how will YHWH feed them like a lamb in a meadow? Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone! Their liquor is gone. They are promiscuous-promiscuous! And the rulers, y’all love-love shameful ways. The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices.