Open English Translation HOS Chapter 4

4 Listen to Yahweh’s message you Israelis,

because Yahweh has brought a lawsuit against the inhabitants of the land,

because there’s no faithfulness or loyal commitment—no knowledge of God in the land.

2 There’s cursing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery.

They’ve broken all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

3 Therefore the land mourns,

and everyone who lives in it is wasting away,

along with the animals in the countryside and the birds in the sky.

Even the fish in the sea will disappear.

4 Despite that, don’t let anyone bring a lawsuit,

and don’t let them accuse.

Your people are like those who would accuse a priest.

5 You’ll stumble during the day.

The prophets will also stumble with you at night,

and I’ll destroy Yisrael (Israel) your mother.

6 My people are destroyed because of the lack of knowledge

because you have rejected knowledge and I’ll reject you from being a priest to me.

Because you’ve forgotten your god’s instructions,

I’ll also forget your children.

7 The more the priests multiplied, the more they sinned against me.

→ I will change their high status into shame.

8 They feed on the sin of my people.

≈ They are greedy for their wickedness.

9 It will be like people, like priests.

→ I will punish them for their ways

≈ and I will repay them for their actions.

10 They’ll eat but never be full.

They’ll sleep around but not prosper,

because they’ve abandoned Yahweh as their protector.

11 Drinking and sleeping around destroy the heart.

12 My people consult their wooden idols,

≈ and their divining rods inform them,

because a spirit of unfaithfulness has led them astray,

≈ and they’ve played the loose woman, departing from their god.

13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops

≈ and burn incense on the hills,

under oaks, poplars and terebinths,

→ because the shade is good.

Therefore your daughters prostitute themselves,

≈ and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

14 I won’t punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves,

≈ nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery,

because the men themselves go off with loose women,

≈ and they offer sacrifices with cult prostitutes,

→ so the people without understanding will be ruined.

15 Though you prostitute yourself, Yisrael (Israel),

don’t involve Yehudah (Judah) in what you’re doing.

Don’t go to Gilgal or to Beyt-Aven,

and don’t make an oath, saying, ‘As Yahweh lives.’

16 Yisrael is stubborn, like a stubborn heifer.

Can Yahweh now feed them like lambs in a large paddock?

17 Efrayim (Ephraim)/Yisrael is joined to idols.

Leave them alone.

18 Even when their drinking is over,

they prostitute themselves continually.

Her rulers dearly love their shame.

19 The wind will wrap them up in its wings,

and they’ll be ashamed because of their sacrifices.