Hosea:4

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* Hear the word of the LORD , You children of Israel , For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land : "There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land . * By swearing and lying , Killing and stealing and committing adultery , They break all restraint , With bloodshed upon bloodshed . * Therefore the land will mourn ; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air ; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away . * "Now let no man contend , or rebuke another ; For your people are like those who contend with the priest . * Therefore you shall stumble in the day ; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night ; And I will destroy your mother . * My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . Because you have rejected knowledge , I also will reject you from being priest for Me ; Because you have forgotten the law of your God , I also will forget your children . * "The more they increased , The more they sinned against Me ; I will change their glory into shame . * They eat up the sin of My people ; They set their heart on their iniquity . * And it shall be : like people , like priest . So I will punish them for their ways , And reward them for their deeds . * For they shall eat , but not have enough ; They shall commit harlotry , but not increase ; Because they have ceased obeying the LORD . * "Harlotry , wine , and new wine enslave the heart . * My people ask counsel from their wooden idols , And their staff informs them . For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray , And they have played the harlot against their God . * 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 . * "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 . * "Though you , Israel , play the harlot , Let not Judah offend . Do not come up to Gilgal , Nor go up to Beth Aven , Nor swear an oath , saying , "As the LORD lives '-- * "For Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn calf ; Now the LORD will let them forage Like a lamb in open country . * "Ephraim is joined to idols , Let him alone . * Their drink is rebellion , They commit harlotry continually . Her rulers dearly love dishonor . * The wind has wrapped her up in its wings , And they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices .

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