(KJV) Hosea 4¹

⥃God’s Case against His People

[1] Hear² the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for³ the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because [there is] no truth⁴, nor mercy, nor knowledge⁵ of God in the land.⁶ [2] By swearing⁷, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood⁸ toucheth⁹ blood. [3] Therefore shall the land¹⁰ mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts¹¹ of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. [4] Yet let¹² no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people [are] as¹³ they that strive with the priest. [5] Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet¹⁴ also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy¹⁵ thy¹⁶ mother.

[6] My people¹⁷ are destroyed¹⁸ for¹⁹ lack of knowledge: because²⁰ thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject²¹ thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing²² thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also²³ forget thy children. [7] As they were²⁴ increased, so they sinned against me: [therefore²⁵] will I change their glory into shame. [8] They eat²⁶ up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity²⁷. [9] And there shall be, like people²⁸, like priest: and I will punish²⁹ them for their ways, and reward them³⁰ their doings. [10] For they shall eat³¹, and not have enough: they shall commit³² whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left³³ off to take heed to the Lord. [11] Whoredom and wine and new wine take³⁴ away the heart.

[12] My people ask³⁵ counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for³⁶ the spirit of whoredoms hath caused [them] to err, and they have gone³⁷ a whoring from under their God. [13] They sacrifice³⁸ upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof [is] good: therefore³⁹ your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. [14] I will not⁴⁰ punish⁴¹ your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for⁴² themselves are separated with whores, and they⁴³ sacrifice with harlots: therefore⁴⁴ the people [that] doth not understand shall fall⁴⁵.

[15] [¶]Though thou, Israel, play⁴⁶ the harlot, [yet⁴⁷] let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal⁴⁸, neither go ye up to Beth–aven⁴⁹, nor⁵⁰ swear, The Lord liveth. [16] For Israel slideth⁵¹ back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb⁵² in a large place. [17] Ephraim⁵³ [is] joined to idols: let⁵⁴ him alone. [18] Their drink⁵⁵ is sour⁵⁶: they have committed⁵⁷ whoredom continually: her⁵⁸ rulers⁵⁹ [with] shame do love, Give ye. [19] The wind⁶⁰ hath bound her up in her wings, and⁶¹ they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.