HO-4:1 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.



HO-4:2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and 
committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.



HO-4:3 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.



HO-4:4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy 
people [are] as they that strive with the priest.



HO-4:5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet 
also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy 
mother.



HO-4:6 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.



HO-4:7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: 
[therefore] will I change their glory into shame.



HO-4:8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their 
heart on their iniquity.



HO-4:9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will 
punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.



HO-4:10 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.



HO-4:11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.



HO-4:12 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.



HO-4:13 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.



HO-4:14 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.



HO-4:15 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.



HO-4:16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the 
LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.



HO-4:17 Ephraim [is] joined to idols: let him alone.



HO-4:18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom 
continually: her rulers [with] shame do love, Give ye.



HO-4:19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall 
be ashamed because of their sacrifices. 

 

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