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.

The Idolatry of Israel

¹¹ “Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart.
¹² My people ask counsel from their wooden idols,
And their ^[a]staff informs them.
For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray,
And they have played the harlot against their God.
¹³ They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops,
And burn incense on the hills,
Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,
Because their shade is good.
Therefore your daughters commit harlotry,
And your brides commit adultery.

¹⁴ “I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry,
Nor your brides when they commit adultery;
For the men themselves go apart with harlots,
And offer sacrifices with a ritual harlot.
Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled.

¹⁵ “Though you, Israel, play the harlot,
Let not Judah offend.
Do not come up to Gilgal,
Nor go up to Beth^[b] Aven,
Nor swear an oath, saying, ‘As the Lord lives’—

¹⁶ “For Israel is stubborn
Like a stubborn calf;
Now the Lord will let them forage
Like a lamb in ^[c]open country.

¹⁷ “Ephraim is joined to idols,
Let him alone.
¹⁸ Their drink ^[d]is rebellion,
They commit harlotry continually.
Her ^[e]rulers ^[f]dearly love dishonor.
¹⁹ The wind has wrapped her up in its wings,
And they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

Footnotes:
a. Hosea 4:12 Diviner’s rod
b. Hosea 4:15 Lit. House of Idolatry or Wickedness
c. Hosea 4:16 Lit. a large place
d. Hosea 4:18 Or has turned aside
e. Hosea 4:18 Lit. shields
f. Hosea 4:18 Heb. difficult; a Jewish tradition shamefully love, ‘Give!’

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.^[a]
    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.

Footnotes:
a. Hosea 4:15 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).

¹¹     to worship other gods.

“Wine has robbed my people
    of their understanding.
¹² They ask a piece of wood for advice!
    They think a stick can tell them the future!
Longing after idols
    has made them foolish.
They have played the prostitute,
    serving other gods and deserting their God.
¹³ They offer sacrifices to idols on the mountaintops.
    They go up into the hills to burn incense
    in the pleasant shade of oaks, poplars, and terebinth trees.

“That is why your daughters turn to prostitution,
    and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
¹⁴ But why should I punish them
    for their prostitution and adultery?
For your men are doing the same thing,
    sinning with whores and shrine prostitutes.
O foolish people! You refuse to understand,
    so you will be destroyed.

¹⁵ “Though you, Israel, are a prostitute,
    may Judah not be guilty of such things.
Do not join the false worship at Gilgal or Beth-aven,^[a]
    and do not take oaths there in the Lord’s name.
¹⁶ Israel is stubborn,
    like a stubborn heifer.
So should the Lord feed her
    like a lamb in a lush pasture?
¹⁷ Leave Israel^[b] alone,
    because she is married to idolatry.
¹⁸ When the rulers of Israel finish their drinking,
    off they go to find some prostitutes.
    They love shame more than honor.^[c]
19 So a mighty wind will sweep them away.
    Their sacrifices to idols will bring them shame.

Footnotes:
a. 4:15 Beth-aven means “house of wickedness”; it is being used as another name for Bethel, which means “house of God.”
b. 4:17 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel.
c. 4:18 As in Greek version; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

5 Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.
² And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.
³ I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.
⁴ They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord.
⁵ And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity: Judah also shall fall with them.
⁶ They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.
⁷ They have dealt treacherously against the Lord: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

Impending Judgment on Israel and Judah

5 “Hear this, O priests!
Take heed, O house of Israel!
Give ear, O house of the king!
For ^[a]yours is the judgment,
Because you have been a snare to Mizpah
And a net spread on Tabor.
² The revolters are deeply involved in slaughter,
Though I rebuke them all.
³ I know Ephraim,
And Israel is not hidden from Me;
For now, O Ephraim, you commit harlotry;
Israel is defiled.

⁴ “They^[b] do not direct their deeds
Toward turning to their God,
For the spirit of harlotry is in their midst,
And they do not know the Lord.
⁵ The pride of Israel testifies to his face;
Therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;
Judah also stumbles with them.

⁶ “With their flocks and herds
They shall go to seek the Lord,
But they will not find Him;
He has withdrawn Himself from them.
⁷ They have dealt treacherously with the Lord,
For they have begotten ^[c]pagan children.
Now a New Moon shall devour them and their heritage.

Footnotes:
a. Hosea 5:1 Or to you
b. Hosea 5:4 Or Their deeds will not allow them to turn
c. Hosea 5:7 Lit. strange

Judgment Against Israel

5 “Hear this, you priests!
    Pay attention, you Israelites!
Listen, royal house!
    This judgment is against you:
You have been a snare at Mizpah,
    a net spread out on Tabor.
² The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter.
    I will discipline all of them.
³ I know all about Ephraim;
    Israel is not hidden from me.
Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution;
    Israel is corrupt.

⁴ “Their deeds do not permit them
    to return to their God.
A spirit of prostitution is in their heart;
    they do not acknowledge the Lord.
⁵ Israel’s arrogance testifies against them;
    the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin;
    Judah also stumbles with them.
⁶ When they go with their flocks and herds
    to seek the Lord,
they will not find him;
    he has withdrawn himself from them.
⁷ They are unfaithful to the Lord;
    they give birth to illegitimate children.
When they celebrate their New Moon feasts,
    he will devour^[a] their fields.

Footnotes:
a. Hosea 5:7 Or Now their New Moon feasts / will devour them and

The Failure of Israel’s Leaders

5 “Hear this, you priests.
    Pay attention, you leaders of Israel.
Listen, you members of the royal family.
    Judgment has been handed down against you.
For you have led the people into a snare
    by worshiping the idols at Mizpah and Tabor.
² You have dug a deep pit to trap them at Acacia Grove.^[a]
    But I will settle with you for what you have done.
³ I know what you are like, O Ephraim.
    You cannot hide yourself from me, O Israel.
You have left me as a prostitute leaves her husband;
    you are utterly defiled.
⁴ Your deeds won’t let you return to your God.
    You are a prostitute through and through,
    and you do not know the Lord.

⁵ “The arrogance of Israel testifies against her;
    Israel and Ephraim will stumble under their load of guilt.
    Judah, too, will fall with them.
⁶ When they come with their flocks and herds
    to offer sacrifices to the Lord,
they will not find him,
    because he has withdrawn from them.
⁷ They have betrayed the honor of the Lord,
    bearing children that are not his.
Now their false religion will devour them
    along with their wealth.^[b]

Footnotes:
a. 5:2 Hebrew at Shittim. The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.
b. 5:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

⁸ Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.
⁹ Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.
¹⁰ The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.
¹¹ Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.
¹² Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.
¹³ When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
¹⁴ For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
¹⁵ I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

⁸ “Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah,
The trumpet in Ramah!
Cry aloud at Beth Aven,
‘Look behind you, O Benjamin!’
⁹ Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke;
Among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure.

¹⁰ “The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark;
I will pour out My wrath on them like water.
¹¹ Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment,
Because he willingly walked by human precept.
¹² Therefore I will be to Ephraim like a moth,
And to the house of Judah like rottenness.

¹³ “When Ephraim saw his sickness,
And Judah saw his wound,
Then Ephraim went to Assyria
And sent to King Jareb;
Yet he cannot cure you,
Nor heal you of your wound.
¹⁴ For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
And like a young lion to the house of Judah.
I, even I, will tear them and go away;
I will take them away, and no one shall rescue.
¹⁵ I will return again to My place
Till they ^[a]acknowledge their offense.
Then they will seek My face;
In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”

Footnotes:
a. Hosea 5:15 Lit. become guilty or bear punishment

⁸ “Sound the trumpet in Gibeah,
    the horn in Ramah.
Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven^[a];
    lead on, Benjamin.
⁹ Ephraim will be laid waste
    on the day of reckoning.
Among the tribes of Israel
    I proclaim what is certain.
¹⁰ Judah’s leaders are like those
    who move boundary stones.
I will pour out my wrath on them
    like a flood of water.
¹¹ Ephraim is oppressed,
    trampled in judgment,
    intent on pursuing idols.^[b]
12 I am like a moth to Ephraim,
    like rot to the people of Judah.

¹³ “When Ephraim saw his sickness,
    and Judah his sores,
then Ephraim turned to Assyria,
    and sent to the great king for help.
But he is not able to cure you,
    not able to heal your sores.
¹⁴ For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
    like a great lion to Judah.
I will tear them to pieces and go away;
    I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.
¹⁵ Then I will return to my lair
    until they have borne their guilt
    and seek my face—
in their misery
    they will earnestly seek me.”

Footnotes:
a. Hosea 5:8 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).
b. Hosea 5:11 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

⁸ “Sound the alarm in Gibeah!
    Blow the trumpet in Ramah!
Raise the battle cry in Beth-aven^[a]!
    Lead on into battle, O warriors of Benjamin!
⁹ One thing is certain, Israel^[b]:
    On your day of punishment,
    you will become a heap of rubble.

¹⁰ “The leaders of Judah have become like thieves.^[c]
    So I will pour my anger on them like a waterfall.
¹¹ The people of Israel will be crushed and broken by my judgment
    because they are determined to worship idols.^[d]
12 I will destroy Israel as a moth consumes wool.
    I will make Judah as weak as rotten wood.

¹³ “When Israel and Judah saw how sick they were,
    Israel turned to Assyria—
to the great king there—
    but he could neither help nor cure them.
¹⁴ I will be like a lion to Israel,
    like a strong young lion to Judah.
    I will tear them to pieces!
I will carry them off,
    and no one will be left to rescue them.
¹⁵ Then I will return to my place
    until they admit their guilt and turn to me.
For as soon as trouble comes,
    they will earnestly search for me.”

Footnotes:
a. 5:8 Beth-aven means “house of wickedness”; it is being used as another name for Bethel, which means “house of God.”
b. 5:9 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel; also in 5:11, 12, 13, 14.
c. 5:10 Hebrew like those who move a boundary marker.
d. 5:11 Or determined to follow human commands. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

6 Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
² After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
³ Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

A Call to Repentance

6 Come, and let us return to the Lord;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will ^[a]bind us up.
² After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
³ Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
His going forth is established as the morning;
He will come to us like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

Footnotes:
a. Hosea 6:1 Bandage

Israel Unrepentant

6 “Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces
    but he will heal us;
he has injured us
    but he will bind up our wounds.
² After two days he will revive us;
    on the third day he will restore us,
    that we may live in his presence.
³ Let us acknowledge the Lord;
    let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
    he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
    like the spring rains that water the earth.”

A Call to Repentance

6 “Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces;
    now he will heal us.
He has injured us;
    now he will bandage our wounds.
² In just a short time he will restore us,
    so that we may live in his presence.
³ Oh, that we might know the Lord!
    Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
    or the coming of rains in early spring.”

⁴ O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
⁵ Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
⁶ For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
⁷ But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
⁸ Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.
⁹ And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.
¹⁰ I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
¹¹ Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.

Impenitence of Israel and Judah

⁴ “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you?
O Judah, what shall I do to you?
For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud,
And like the early dew it goes away.
⁵ Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have slain them by the words of My mouth;
And ^[a]your judgments are like light that goes forth.
⁶ For I desire mercy^[b] and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

⁷ “But like ^[c]men they transgressed the covenant;
There they dealt treacherously with Me.
⁸ Gilead is a city of evildoers
And ^[d]defiled with blood.
⁹ As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man,
So the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem;
Surely they commit lewdness.
¹⁰ I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel:
There is the ^[e]harlotry of Ephraim;
Israel is defiled.
¹¹ Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you,
When I return the captives of My people.

Footnotes:
a. Hosea 6:5 Or the judgments on you
b. Hosea 6:6 Or faithfulness or loyalty
c. Hosea 6:7 Or Adam
d. Hosea 6:8 Lit. foot-tracked
e. Hosea 6:10 Spiritual adultery

⁴ “What can I do with you, Ephraim?
    What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
    like the early dew that disappears.
⁵ Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
    I killed you with the words of my mouth—
    then my judgments go forth like the sun.^[a]
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
    and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
⁷ As at Adam,^[b] they have broken the covenant;
    they were unfaithful to me there.
⁸ Gilead is a city of evildoers,
    stained with footprints of blood.
⁹ As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,
    so do bands of priests;
they murder on the road to Shechem,
    carrying out their wicked schemes.
¹⁰ I have seen a horrible thing in Israel:
    There Ephraim is given to prostitution,
    Israel is defiled.

¹¹ “Also for you, Judah,
    a harvest is appointed.

“Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,

Footnotes:
a. Hosea 6:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
b. Hosea 6:7 Or Like Adam; or Like human beings

⁴ “O Israel^[a] and Judah,
    what should I do with you?” asks the Lord.
“For your love vanishes like the morning mist
    and disappears like dew in the sunlight.
⁵ I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces—
    to slaughter you with my words,
    with judgments as inescapable as light.
⁶ I want you to show love,^[b]
    not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know me^[c]
    more than I want burnt offerings.
⁷ But like Adam,^[d] you broke my covenant
    and betrayed my trust.

⁸ “Gilead is a city of sinners,
    tracked with footprints of blood.
⁹ Priests form bands of robbers,
    waiting in ambush for their victims.
They murder travelers along the road to Shechem
    and practice every kind of sin.
¹⁰ Yes, I have seen something horrible in Ephraim and Israel:
    My people are defiled by prostituting themselves with other gods!

¹¹ “O Judah, a harvest of punishment is also waiting for you,
    though I wanted to restore the fortunes of my people.

Footnotes:
a. 6:4 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel.
b. 6:6a Greek version translates this Hebrew term as to show mercy. Compare Matt 9:13; 12:7.
c. 6:6b Hebrew to know God.
d. 6:7 Or But at Adam.