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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