Hosea 4 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

The Lord Accuses Israel

1 Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; (Isa 3:13; Jer 4:22; Jer 5:4; Jer 25:31; Ho 4:6; Ho 4:14; Ho 5:1; Mic 6:2)

Isa 3:13Jer 4:22Jer 5:4Jer 25:31Ho 4:6Ho 4:14Ho 5:1Mic 6:2

2 there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. (Ho 6:9; Ho 7:1; Ho 12:14; Mic 3:10; Mic 7:2)

Ho 6:9Ho 7:1Ho 12:14Mic 3:10Mic 7:2

3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away. (Isa 24:4; Jer 4:28; Eze 38:20; Joe 1:10; Joe 1:18; Zep 1:3)

Isa 24:4Jer 4:28Eze 38:20Joe 1:10Joe 1:18Zep 1:3

4 Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest.^[1] (De 17:12; Ho 4:17) 5 You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother. (Ho 2:2) 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. (Ex 19:6; Pr 1:29; Isa 5:13; Jer 23:39; Ho 4:1)

Ex 19:6Pr 1:29Isa 5:13Jer 23:39Ho 4:1

7 The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame. (1Sa 2:30; Ho 13:6; Mal 2:9) 8 They feed on the sin^[2] of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity. (Le 6:25; Le 10:17) 9 And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. (Isa 24:2) 10 They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply, because they have forsaken the Lord to cherish (Le 26:26; Mic 6:14; Hag 1:6) 11 whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding. (1Ki 11:4; Pr 20:1) 12 My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore. (Jud 18:5; Ho 2:2; Ho 5:4) 13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your brides commit adultery. (Isa 1:29; Eze 6:13) 14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and a people without understanding shall come to ruin. (De 23:17; Ho 4:1; Ho 4:6; Ho 9:10)

De 23:17Ho 4:1Ho 4:6Ho 9:10

15 Though you play the whore, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty. Enter not into Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and swear not, “As the Lord lives.” (1Ki 12:29; Ho 5:8; Ho 6:4; Ho 9:15; Ho 10:5; Ho 10:8; Ho 12:11; Am 1:5; Am 4:4; Am 5:5)

1Ki 12:29Ho 5:8Ho 6:4Ho 9:15Ho 10:5Ho 10:8Ho 12:11Am 1:5Am 4:4Am 5:5

16 Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the Lord now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture? 17 Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone. (Ho 4:12; Ho 5:3; Mt 15:14) 18 When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring; their rulers^[3] dearly love shame. (Ho 9:10) 19 A wind has wrapped them^[4] in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. (Isa 1:29; Jer 4:11; Jer 51:1; Ho 13:15; Zec 5:9)

Isa 1:29Jer 4:11Jer 51:1Ho 13:15Zec 5:9

New International Version

from Biblica

The charge against Israel

1 Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: ‘There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. 2 There is only cursing,^[1] lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. 3 Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away. 4 ‘But let no-one bring a charge, let no-one accuse another, for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest. 5 You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother – 6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. ‘Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. 7 The more priests there were, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their glorious God^[2] for something disgraceful. 8 They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness. 9 And it will be: like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. 10 ‘They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not flourish, because they have deserted the Lord to give themselves 11 to prostitution; old wine and new wine take away their understanding. 12 My people consult a wooden idol, and a diviner’s rod speaks to them. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God. 13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, where the shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. 14 ‘I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine-prostitutes – a people without understanding will come to ruin! 15 ‘Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty. ‘Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven.^[3] And do not swear, “As surely as the Lord lives!” 16 The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the Lord pasture them like lambs in a meadow? 17 Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone! 18 Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution; their rulers dearly love shameful ways. 19 A whirlwind will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.

New International Reader’s Version

from Biblica

The Lord brings charges against Israel

1 People of Israel, listen to the LORD’s message. He is bringing charges against you who live in Israel. He says, ‘There is no faithfulness or love in the land. No one recognises me as God. 2 People curse one another. They tell lies and commit murder. They steal and commit adultery. They break all my laws. They keep spilling the blood of other people. 3 That is why the land is drying up. All those who live in it are getting weaker and weaker. The wild animals and the birds in the sky are dying. So are the fish in the ocean. 4 ‘But you priests should not blame the people. You should not find fault with one another. After all, your people could also bring charges against you. 5 You trip and fall day and night. And the prophets fall down along with you. So I will destroy your nation. She is the one who gave birth to you. 6 My people are destroyed because they do not know me. ‘You priests have refused to obey me. So I will refuse to accept you as my priests. You have not paid any attention to my law. So I will not let your children be my priests. 7 The more priests there were, the more they sinned against me. They have traded their glorious God for that shameful god named Baal. 8 They live off the sins of my people. And they want them to keep on sinning. 9 So here is what I will do. I will punish people and priests alike. I will judge them because of their sinful lives. I will pay them back for the evil things they have done. 10 ‘My people will eat. But they will not have enough. They will have sex with prostitutes. But they will not have any children. That’s because they have deserted me. They have sex 11 with prostitutes. They drink old wine and fresh wine. Their drinking has destroyed their ability to understand. 12 My people ask a wooden statue of a god for advice. They get answers from a stick of wood. They are as unfaithful as prostitutes. They are not faithful to their God. 13 They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops. They burn offerings on the hills. They worship under oak, poplar and terebinth trees. The trees provide plenty of shade. So your daughters become prostitutes. And your daughters-in-law commit adultery. 14 ‘I will not punish your daughters when they become prostitutes. I will not judge your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. After all, the men themselves have sex with sinful women. They offer sacrifices where temple prostitutes earn their living. People who can’t understand will be destroyed! 15 ‘Israel, you are not faithful to me. But I do not want Judah to become guilty too. ‘My people, do not go to Gilgal to offer sacrifices. Do not go up to Bethel to worship other gods. When you make a promise, do not say, “You can be sure that the LORD is alive.” 16 The people of Israel are stubborn. They are as stubborn as a young cow. So how can I take care of them like lambs in a meadow? 17 The people of Ephraim have joined themselves to other gods. And nothing can be done to help them. 18 They continue to be unfaithful to me even when their drinks are gone. And their rulers love to do shameful things. 19 A violent storm will blow all of them away. And their sacrifices will bring shame on them.

King James Version

1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. 3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. 4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. 5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. 8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. 9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. 10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD. 11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. 12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. 13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. 14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall. 15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth. 16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. 17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. 18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye. 19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

Einheitsübersetzung 2016

from Katholisches Bibelwerk

ISRAELS IRRWEGE UND DER HEILIGE GOTT

Gottes Prozess gegen die Bewohner des Landes

1 Hört das Wort des HERRN, ihr Söhne Israels! / Denn der HERR verklagt / die Bewohner des Landes: Es gibt keine Treue und keine Liebe / und keine Gotteserkenntnis im Land. (Isa 3:13; Mic 6:2) 2 Nein, Fluch, Lüge, / Mord, Diebstahl und Ehebruch machen sich breit, / Bluttat reiht sich an Bluttat. (Jer 7:9) 3 Darum soll das Land verdorren, / alle seine Bewohner sollen verwelken, samt den Tieren des Feldes / und den Vögeln des Himmels; / auch die Fische im Meer sollen zugrunde gehen. (Jer 4:28; Zep 1:3)

Angeklagte Priester

4 Doch niemand soll verklagen / und niemand soll andere zur Rechenschaft ziehen! / Ja, dein Volk ist wie jene, die den Priester verklagen. (Jer 5:4) 5 Am helllichten Tag kommst du zu Fall / und ebenso wie du stürzt in der Nacht der Prophet. / Auch deine Mutter lasse ich umkommen. 6 Mein Volk kommt um, weil ihm die Erkenntnis fehlt. / Weil du die Erkenntnis verworfen hast, / darum verwerfe auch ich dich, sodass du nicht mehr als Priester für mich wirken kannst. Du hast die Weisung deines Gottes vergessen; / darum vergesse auch ich deine Söhne. (Mal 2:8) 7 Je mehr sie wurden, / umso mehr sündigten sie gegen mich. Ihre Ehre werde ich eintauschen gegen Schande. (Jer 2:11) 8 Sie ernähren sich von der Sünde meines Volkes / und sind gierig nach seinen Verbrechen. 9 Darum wird es wie dem Volk so dem Priester ergehen: / Ihn suche ich heim für sein Verhalten, seine Taten vergelte ich ihm. 10 Sie werden essen, doch sie werden nicht satt, / sie treiben Unzucht, doch sie vermehren sich nicht. Ja, sie haben den HERRN verlassen, / um sich an Unzucht zu halten.^[1] (Mic 6:14)

Religiöse Verirrungen

11 Wein und Most rauben meinem Volk den Verstand: / 12 Es befragt sein Holz und sein Stock soll ihm Auskunft geben. Ja, der Geist der Unzucht führt es irre. / Unzucht haben sie getrieben / und ihren Gott verlassen. (Jer 2:27; Ho 1:2) 13 Sie feiern Schlachtopfer auf den Höhen der Berge, / auf den Hügeln bringen sie Räucheropfer dar, unter Terebinthen, Storaxbäumen und Eichen - / ihr Schatten ist ja so angenehm. Darum treiben eure Töchter Unzucht / und eure Schwiegertöchter Ehebruch. (De 12:2) 14 Aber ich suche eure Töchter nicht dafür heim, / dass sie Unzucht treiben, und nicht eure Schwiegertöchter dafür, / dass sie die Ehe brechen; denn sie selbst / gehen mit den Dirnen beiseite, mit den geweihten Frauen bringen sie Schlachtopfer dar. / So stürzt das unwissende Volk ins Verderben.^[2] (De 23:18) 15 Auch wenn du, Israel, Unzucht treibst, / so soll sich doch Juda nicht schuldig machen. Kommt nicht nach Gilgal, / zieht nicht nach Bet-Awen hinauf! / Schwört nicht: So wahr der HERR lebt! (Ho 12:12; Am 4:4; Am 8:14) 16 Ja, Israel ist störrisch geworden wie eine störrische Kuh. / Und jetzt sollte der HERR sie weiden / wie Lämmer auf weiter Flur? (Jer 31:18) 17 Efraim ist mit den Götzen verbündet. Lass ihn gewähren! / (Ho 6:4) 18 Ist ihre Zecherei zu Ende, treiben sie Unzucht noch und noch: Sie entbrennen vor Liebe zu ihr, / deren Schilde eine Schande sind.^[3] (Am 2:8; Am 4:1) 19 Doch ein Sturm rafft sie mit seinen Flügeln dahin / und ihre Altäre werden zuschanden werden. (Jer 4:11)