Old Testament

New Testament

Hosea 4:2-13 New International Version (NIV)

2. There is only cursing, 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 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.

Read complete chapter Hosea 4