Hosea, chapter 4
Hosea's Message to Israel, Judah, and Their Leaders
This second part of Hosea records the prophet's messages to the people of Israel and Judah and to their leaders. Most of Hosea's words describe God's anger and judgment against the people who have sinned in many ways, but his message also includes the hope that the people will be restored to their land sometime in the future.
Hosea tells the people of Israel and Judah that the Lord accuses them of being unfaithful by worshiping the Canaanite idols and by turning to foreign kings for help.
Israel Is Unfaithful
srael, listen as the Lord accuses everyone in the land!
No one is faithful or loyal or truly cares about God.
2Cursing, dishonesty, murder, robbery, unfaithfulness—
these happen all the time.
Violence is everywhere. 3And so your land is a desert.
Every living creature is dying—
people and wild animals, birds and fish.
The Lord Warns the Priests
4Don't accuse just anyone! Not everyone is at fault.
My case is against you, the priests.
5You and the prophets will stumble day and night;
I'll silence your mothers.
6You priests have rejected me,
and my people are destroyed by refusing to obey.
Now I'll reject you and forget your children,
because you have forgotten my Law.
7By adding more of you priests,
you multiply the number of people who sin.
Now I'll change your pride into shame.
8You encourage others to sin, so you can stuff yourselves
on their sin offerings.
9That's why I will punish the people for their deeds,
just as I will punish you priests.
10Their food won't satisfy, and having sex at pagan shrines
won't produce children.
My people have rebelled 11and have been unfaithful
to me, their Lord.
God Condemns Israel's Idolatry
My people, you are foolish because of too much pleasure
and too much wine.
12You expect wooden idols and other objects of wood
to give you advice.
Lusting for sex at pagan shrines has made you unfaithful
to me, your God.
13You offer sacrifices on mountaintops and hills,
under oak trees, and wherever good shade is found.
Your own daughters and daughters-in-law
sell themselves for sex.
14But I won't punish them. You men are to blame,
because you go to prostitutes and offer sacrifices with them
at pagan shrines.
Your own foolishness will lead to your ruin.
15Israel, you are unfaithful, but don't lead Judah to sin.
Stop worshiping at Gilgal or at sinful Bethel.
And quit making promises in my name—
the name of the living Lord.
16You are nothing more than a stubborn cow—
so stubborn that I, the Lord,
cannot feed you like lambs in an open pasture.
17You people of Israel are charmed by idols.
Leave those people alone!
18You get drunk, then sleep with prostitutes;
you would rather be vulgar than lead a decent life.
19And so you will be swept away in a whirlwind
for sacrificing to idols.