Hosea 4

1 Hear [listen and obey] the word [divine message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], O children [sons, descendants] of Israel, for the LORD [the supreme God] has a case [a controversy, a lawsuit] against the people of the land: “There is no [absence of] truth [faithfulness, stability], no [lack of] loving devotion [kindness, mercy, pity], and no [no understanding of] knowledge [intimate awareness, recognition] of God [Elohim, the one supreme God] in the land [the country, territory, region]! word study 2 Cursing [swearing, using God’s name in vain] and lying [deceiving, being untrue], murder [killing, taking a life] and stealing [taking secretly, deceiving], and adultery [committing unfaithfulness, being unfaithful] are rampant [overflowing, widespread]; one act of bloodshed [violence, shedding of blood] follows another [blood touching blood, one violent act leading to another]. word study 3 Therefore [as a result, thus] the land [earth, territory] mourns [to lament, grieve], and all [every single one] who dwell [sit, remain] in it will waste away [languish, become weak] with the beasts [wild animals] of the field [open land, countryside] and the birds [fowl, winged creatures] of the air [heaven, sky]; even [also, too] the fish [sea creatures] of the sea [large body of water, ocean] disappear [be taken away, removed]. word study 4 But let no [certainly not, under no circumstances] man [a male person, an individual] contend [strive, argue, go to law]; let no man [a person, an individual] offer reproof [rebuke, correct, judge]; for your people [nation, those belonging to you] are like those who contend [strive, argue, go to law] with a priest [one who serves God, a spiritual leader]. word study 5 You will stumble [fall, trip, lose your balance] by day [a literal 24-hour period, a figurative space of time], and the prophet [someone who speaks for God, a spokesperson] will stumble [fall, fail, be mistaken] with you [together, in companionship] by night [the time of darkness, adversity, or hardship]; so I will destroy [bring to an end, cause to cease, silence] your mother [a female parent, a maternal figure, the nation of Israel]— word study 6 My people [nation, community] are destroyed [cut off, perishing] for lack of [without, devoid of] knowledge [understanding, spiritual insight]. Because you have rejected [spurned, refused] knowledge [divine truth], I will also reject [refuse, spurn] you as My priests [ministers, spiritual leaders]. Since you have forgotten [been oblivious to, neglected] the law [instruction, teachings] of your God [Elohim, supreme Creator], I will also forget [be oblivious to, neglect] your children [descendants, offspring]. word study 7 The more they multiplied [grew in number, increased abundantly], the more they sinned [missed the mark, rebelled] against Me; they exchanged [traded, replaced] their Glory [great honor, divine splendor] for a thing of disgrace [shame, dishonor, humiliation]. word study 8 They feed [eat up, devour] on the sins [guilt, punishment for sin] of My people [nation, Amaw] and set [lift up, direct] their hearts [soul, living being] on [toward, to] iniquity [moral evil, sin]. word study 9 And it shall be [like in nature, similar in character] like people [a nation, a community], like priest [a spiritual leader, one who serves God]. I will punish [visit, oversee, reckon with] both of them for their ways [paths, manner of life] and repay [return, reward, bring recompense for] them for their deeds [actions, acts]. word study 10 They will eat [but not have enough, and still be hungry] but not be satisfied [filled to completion]; they will be promiscuous [commit whoredom, engage in idolatry] but not multiply [increase in number]. For [because, since] they have stopped obeying [ceased to take heed to, abandoned] the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God]. word study 11 Promiscuity [fornication, unfaithfulness, idolatry], wine [intoxicating drink, fermented wine], and new wine [freshly squeezed, undiluted] take away [remove, deprive] understanding [heart, intellect, wisdom]. word study 12 My people [the nation of Israel, a people or nation] consult their wooden idols [stocks, tree], and their divining rods [staff] inform them. For a spirit [breath of life, the wind] of prostitution [fornication, whoredoms] leads them astray [causes to err, go astray] and they have played the harlot [gone a-whoring, committed fornication] against their God [Elohim, the one supreme God]. word study 13 They sacrifice [on the high places, upon the tops] on the mountaintops and burn offerings [incense, fragrant smoke] on the hills, under oak [strong tree], poplar [white-barked tree], and terebinth [turpentine tree], because their shade [shadow, protection] is pleasant [good, beneficial]. And so your daughters [female children, women] turn to prostitution [fornication, idolatry] and your daughters-in-law [brides, women married into the family] to adultery [unfaithfulness, spiritual infidelity]. word study 14 I will not [refuse to, or fail to] punish your daughters when they prostitute [commit fornication, or engage in idolatrous] themselves, nor your daughters-in-law [brides, or wives] when they commit adultery [are unfaithful, or engage in spiritual infidelity]. For the men themselves [they, or the husbands] go off with prostitutes [harlots, or shrine prostitutes] and offer sacrifices [worship, or make offerings] with shrine prostitutes [cult prostitutes, or qedeshot]. So a people [nation, or community] without understanding [discernment, or spiritual insight] will come to ruin [be overthrown, or fall]. word study 15 Though you [play the harlot, commit spiritual adultery] prostitute yourself, O Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants], may Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob] avoid such guilt [be guilty, deserve punishment]! Do not [let not, do not allow] journey to Gilgal [a region in Palestine, a place of idolatry], do not go up to Beth-aven [the house of vanity, a city east of Bethel], and do not swear [make a promise or vow, take an oath] on oath, ‘As surely as [in the name of, with the authority of] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] lives [is alive, has life]!’ word study 16 For Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] is as obstinate [stubborn, rebellious] as a stubborn [unruly, backsliding] heifer [young female cow]. Can the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] now [at this time, in this situation] shepherd [care for, tend to] them like lambs [young sheep, gentle creatures] in an open [broad, spacious] meadow [a wide, expansive area]? word study 17 Ephraim [the tribe of Israel, doubly fruitful] is joined [united, bewitched] to idols [idolatrous images, false gods]; leave [let, allow] him alone [to rest, undisturbed]! word study 18 When their liquor [drink, wine, or carousal] is gone, they turn [to depart, remove themselves] to prostitution [fornication, idolatry, or unfaithfulness]; their rulers dearly love [have affection for, are devoted to] disgrace [dishonor, shame, or feelings of wrongdoing]. word study 19 The whirlwind [a violent storm, a windstorm] has wrapped them in its wings [enveloped, surrounded], and their sacrifices [offerings to idols, pagan worship] will bring them shame [be ashamed, disappointed]. word study