Hosea 4

YHWH brings a charge against Israel for lacking faithfulness, kindness, and knowledge of God (da'at), with rampant swearing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery, and bloodshed causing the land, beasts, birds, and fish to mourn and languish.[1][2][3] YHWH condemns the priests for rejecting knowledge, leading to their rejection and the people's destruction, warns against idolatry and harlotry like a stubborn heifer, and declares Ephraim joined to idols.[2][3][4]

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Interlinear Text

Hear Hear! the word word of of the LORD Yahweh Yahweh O sons sons of of Israel El-Contends Yiserael for for/because a case dispute for the LORD to Yahweh to Yahweh against if / whether the inhabitants dwellers of of the land the earth because for/because there is no there is not truth firm reliability nor and there is not faithful love covenant-loyal love nor and there is not knowledge knowledge-of of God mighty ones in the land in the land
Verse 1 שִׁמְע֥וּ 𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤅 shimeu Hear Hear! HVqv2mp דְבַר 𐤃𐤁𐤓 devar the word word of HNcmsc יְהוָ֖ה 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 yehvah Nyambe (Lozi) of the LORD Yahweh Yahweh HNp בְּנֵ֣י 𐤁𐤍𐤉 beney Bene (Bemba) O sons sons of HNcmpc יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל 𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋 yiserael of Israel El-Contends Yiserael HNp כִּ֣י 𐤊𐤉 ki for for/because HC רִ֤יב 𐤓𐤉𐤁 riv a case dispute HNcbsa לַֽ/יהוָה֙ 𐤋/𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 layhvah Nyambe (Lozi) for the LORD to Yahweh to Yahweh HR/Np עִם 𐤏𐤌 im against if / whether HR יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י 𐤉𐤅𐤔𐤁𐤉 yoshevey the inhabitants dwellers of HVqrmpc הָ/אָ֔רֶץ 𐤄/𐤀𐤓𐤑 haarets of the land the earth HTd/Ncbsa כִּ֠י 𐤊𐤉 ki-2 because for/because HC אֵין 𐤀𐤉𐤍 eyn there is no there is not HTn אֱמֶ֧ת 𐤀𐤌𐤕 emet truth firm reliability HNcfsa וְֽ/אֵין 𐤅/𐤀𐤉𐤍 veeyn nor and there is not HC/Tn חֶ֛סֶד 𐤇𐤎𐤃 chesed faithful love covenant-loyal love HNcmsa וְ/אֵֽין 𐤅/𐤀𐤉𐤍 veeyn-2 nor and there is not HC/Tn דַּ֥עַת 𐤃𐤏𐤕 daat knowledge knowledge-of HNcfsc אֱלֹהִ֖ים 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌 elohim Mulimu (Lozi) of God mighty ones HNcmpa בָּ/אָֽרֶץ 𐤁/𐤀𐤓𐤑 baarets in the land in the land HRd/Ncbsa
Therefore upon so thus will mourn she will mourn the land the earth and will languish and he was utterly weakened every entirety of who dwells dwelling-one of in it — with the beasts in living-being of of the field the open field and with the birds and in flying-creature of of the heavens the lofty-heights even and also the fish fishes of of the sea the sea will be gathered up they will be gathered
Verse 3 עַל 𐤏𐤋 al Therefore upon HR כֵּ֣ן 𐤊𐤍 ken so thus HTm תֶּאֱבַ֣ל 𐤕𐤀𐤁𐤋 teeval will mourn she will mourn HVqi3fs הָ/אָ֗רֶץ 𐤄/𐤀𐤓𐤑 haarets the land the earth HTd/Ncbsa וְ/אֻמְלַל֙ 𐤅/𐤀𐤌𐤋𐤋 veumelal and will languish and he was utterly weakened HC/VKq3ms כָּל 𐤊𐤋 kal every entirety of HNcmsc יוֹשֵׁ֣ב 𐤉𐤅𐤔𐤁 yoshev who dwells dwelling-one of HVqrmsa בָּ֔/הּ 𐤁/𐤄 bah in it HR/Sp3fs בְּ/חַיַּ֥ת 𐤁/𐤇𐤉𐤕 bechayat with the beasts in living-being of HR/Ncfsc הַ/שָּׂדֶ֖ה 𐤄/𐤔𐤃𐤄 hasadeh of the field the open field HTd/Ncmsa וּ/בְ/ע֣וֹף 𐤅/𐤁/𐤏𐤅𐤐 uveof and with the birds and in flying-creature of HC/R/Ncmsc הַ/שָּׁמָ֑יִם 𐤄/𐤔𐤌𐤉𐤌 hashamayim of the heavens the lofty-heights HTd/Ncmpa וְ/גַם 𐤅/𐤂𐤌 vegam even and also HC/Ta דְּגֵ֥י 𐤃𐤂𐤉 degey the fish fishes of HNcmpc הַ/יָּ֖ם 𐤄/𐤉𐤌 hayam of the sea the sea HTd/Ncmsa יֵאָסֵֽפוּ 𐤉𐤀𐤎𐤐𐤅 yeasefu will be gathered up they will be gathered HVNi3mp
are destroyed they were silenced my people my people for lack of from lack of knowledge the knowledge because for/because you you knowledge the knowledge have rejected you spurned and I will reject you I will reject you from being priest from serving as priest to me — and you have forgotten and you forgot the law instruction of of your God your Mighty One I will forget I will forget your children your sons also also I I
Verse 6 נִדְמ֥וּ 𐤍𐤃𐤌𐤅 nidemu are destroyed they were silenced HVNp3cp עַמִּ֖/י 𐤏𐤌/𐤉 ami my people my people HNcmsc/Sp1cs מִ/בְּלִ֣י 𐤌/𐤁𐤋𐤉 mibeli for lack of from lack of HR/Ncmsc הַ/דָּ֑עַת 𐤄/𐤃𐤏𐤕 hadaat knowledge the knowledge HTd/Ncfsa כִּֽי 𐤊𐤉 ki because for/because HC אַתָּ֞ה 𐤀𐤕𐤄 atah you you HPp2ms הַ/דַּ֣עַת 𐤄/𐤃𐤏𐤕 hadaat-2 knowledge the knowledge HTd/Ncfsa מָאַ֗סְתָּ 𐤌𐤀𐤎𐤕 maaseta have rejected you spurned HVqp2ms וְ/אֶמְאָֽסְא/ךָ֙ 𐤅/𐤀𐤌𐤀𐤎𐤀/𐤊 veemeasekha and I will reject you I will reject you HC/Vqi1cs/Sp2ms מִ/כַּהֵ֣ן 𐤌/𐤊𐤄𐤍 mikahen from being priest from serving as priest HR/Vpc לִ֔/י 𐤋/𐤉 li to me HR/Sp1cs וַ/תִּשְׁכַּח֙ 𐤅/𐤕𐤔𐤊𐤇 vatishekach and you have forgotten and you forgot HC/Vqw2ms תּוֹרַ֣ת 𐤕𐤅𐤓𐤕 torat the law instruction of HNcfsc אֱלֹהֶ֔י/ךָ 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉/𐤊 eloheykha Mulimu (Lozi) of your God your Mighty One HNcmpc/Sp2ms אֶשְׁכַּ֥ח 𐤀𐤔𐤊𐤇 eshekach I will forget I will forget HVqi1cs בָּנֶ֖י/ךָ 𐤁𐤍𐤉/𐤊 baneykha Bene (Bemba) your children your sons HNcmpc/Sp2ms גַּם 𐤂𐤌 gam also also HTa אָֽנִי 𐤀𐤍𐤉 ani Ine (Bemba) I I HPp1cs
upon upon tops of heads of the mountains the mountains they sacrifice they slaughter for sacrifice and upon and upon the hills the hills they burn incense they make aromatic smoke rise under under; in place of oak mighty oak and poplar pale-barked tree and terebinth strong oak tree because for/because good good its shade Shade-woman therefore upon thus thus play the harlot they (fem.) will act as prostitutes your daughters your daughters and your daughters-in-law and your newly-married women commit adultery they will commit adultery
Verse 13 עַל 𐤏𐤋 al upon upon HR רָאשֵׁ֨י 𐤓𐤀𐤔𐤉 rashey tops of heads of HNcmpc הֶ/הָרִ֜ים 𐤄/𐤄𐤓𐤉𐤌 heharim the mountains the mountains HTd/Ncmpa יְזַבֵּ֗חוּ 𐤉𐤆𐤁𐤇𐤅 yezabechu they sacrifice they slaughter for sacrifice HVpi3mp וְ/עַל 𐤅/𐤏𐤋 veal and upon and upon HC/R הַ/גְּבָעוֹת֙ 𐤄/𐤂𐤁𐤏𐤅𐤕 hagevaot the hills the hills HTd/Ncfpa יְקַטֵּ֔רוּ 𐤉𐤒𐤈𐤓𐤅 yeqateru they burn incense they make aromatic smoke rise HVpi3mp תַּ֣חַת 𐤕𐤇𐤕 tachat under under; in place of HR אַלּ֧וֹן 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤍 alon oak mighty oak HNcmsa וְ/לִבְנֶ֛ה 𐤅/𐤋𐤁𐤍𐤄 veliveneh and poplar pale-barked tree HC/Ncmsa וְ/אֵלָ֖ה 𐤅/𐤀𐤋𐤄 veelah and terebinth strong oak tree HC/Ncfsa כִּ֣י 𐤊𐤉 ki because for/because HC ט֣וֹב 𐤈𐤅𐤁 tov good good HAamsa צִלָּ֑/הּ 𐤑𐤋/𐤄 tsilah its shade Shade-woman HNcmsc/Sp3fs עַל 𐤏𐤋 al-2 therefore upon HR כֵּ֗ן 𐤊𐤍 ken thus thus HTm תִּזְנֶ֨ינָה֙ 𐤕𐤆𐤍𐤉𐤍𐤄 tizeneynah play the harlot they (fem.) will act as prostitutes HVqi3fp בְּנ֣וֹתֵי/כֶ֔ם 𐤁𐤍𐤅𐤕𐤉/𐤊𐤌 benoteykhem your daughters your daughters HNcfpc/Sp2mp וְ/כַלּוֹתֵי/כֶ֖ם 𐤅/𐤊𐤋𐤅𐤕𐤉/𐤊𐤌 vekhaloteykhem and your daughters-in-law and your newly-married women HC/Ncfpc/Sp2mp תְּנָאַֽפְנָה 𐤕𐤍𐤀𐤐𐤍𐤄 tenaafenah commit adultery they will commit adultery HVpi3fp
not not I will punish I will attend to over/against upon your daughters your daughters when for/because they play the harlot they (fem.) will act as prostitutes nor over and upon your brides your brides when for/because they commit adultery they will commit adultery for for/because they/themselves they with if / whether the harlots the prostituting women go apart they will divide apart and with and if the temple prostitutes the consecrated cult-prostitutes they sacrifice they slaughter for sacrifice and people and a people not not understands He discerns shall be ruined will be overturned
Verse 14 לֹֽא 𐤋𐤀 lo not not HTn אֶפְק֨וֹד 𐤀𐤐𐤒𐤅𐤃 efeqod I will punish I will attend to HVqi1cs עַל 𐤏𐤋 al over/against upon HR בְּנוֹתֵי/כֶ֜ם 𐤁𐤍𐤅𐤕𐤉/𐤊𐤌 benoteykhem your daughters your daughters HNcfpc/Sp2mp כִּ֣י 𐤊𐤉 ki when for/because HC תִזְנֶ֗ינָה 𐤕𐤆𐤍𐤉𐤍𐤄 tizeneynah they play the harlot they (fem.) will act as prostitutes HVqi3fp וְ/עַל 𐤅/𐤏𐤋 veal nor over and upon HC/R כַּלּֽוֹתֵי/כֶם֙ 𐤊𐤋𐤅𐤕𐤉/𐤊𐤌 kaloteykhem your brides your brides HNcfpc/Sp2mp כִּ֣י 𐤊𐤉 ki-2 when for/because HC תְנָאַ֔פְנָה 𐤕𐤍𐤀𐤐𐤍𐤄 tenaafenah they commit adultery they will commit adultery HVpi3fp כִּי 𐤊𐤉 ki-3 for for/because HC הֵם֙ 𐤄𐤌 hem they/themselves they HPp3mp עִם 𐤏𐤌 im with if / whether HR הַ/זֹּנ֣וֹת 𐤄/𐤆𐤍𐤅𐤕 hazonot the harlots the prostituting women HTd/Vqrfpa יְפָרֵ֔דוּ 𐤉𐤐𐤓𐤃𐤅 yefaredu go apart they will divide apart HVpi3mp וְ/עִם 𐤅/𐤏𐤌 veim and with and if HC/R הַ/קְּדֵשׁ֖וֹת 𐤄/𐤒𐤃𐤔𐤅𐤕 haqedeshot the temple prostitutes the consecrated cult-prostitutes HTd/Aafpa יְזַבֵּ֑חוּ 𐤉𐤆𐤁𐤇𐤅 yezabechu they sacrifice they slaughter for sacrifice HVpi3mp וְ/עָ֥ם 𐤅/𐤏𐤌 veam and people and a people HC/Ncmsa לֹֽא 𐤋𐤀 lo-2 not not HTn יָבִ֖ין 𐤉𐤁𐤉𐤍 yavin understands He discerns HVqi3ms יִלָּבֵֽט 𐤉𐤋𐤁𐤈 yilavet shall be ruined will be overturned HVNi3ms
though if / whether you play the harlot one who prostitutes himself you you Israel El-Contends Yiserael let not upon / over become guilty he will incur guilt Judah Yah Is Praised Yehudah and not and do not come you will come to Gilgal the Gilgal the Gilegal nor and do not go up you shall cause to ascend house house-of Beyt Aven of Aven worthless wickedness Beyt Aven nor and do not swear you will swear an oath living living the LORD Yahweh Yahweh
Verse 15 אִם 𐤀𐤌 im though if / whether HC זֹנֶ֤ה 𐤆𐤍𐤄 zoneh you play the harlot one who prostitutes himself HVqrmsa אַתָּה֙ 𐤀𐤕𐤄 atah you you HPp2ms יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל 𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋 yiserael Israel El-Contends Yiserael HNp אַל 𐤀𐤋 al let not upon / over HTn יֶאְשַׁ֖ם 𐤉𐤀𐤔𐤌 yeesham become guilty he will incur guilt HVqj3ms יְהוּדָ֑ה 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤄 yehudah Judah Yah Is Praised Yehudah HNp וְ/אַל 𐤅/𐤀𐤋 veal and not and do not HC/Tn תָּבֹ֣אוּ 𐤕𐤁𐤀𐤅 tavou come you will come HVqj2mp הַ/גִּלְגָּ֗ל 𐤄/𐤂𐤋𐤂𐤋 hagilegal to Gilgal the Gilgal the Gilegal HTd/Np וְ/אַֽל 𐤅/𐤀𐤋 veal-2 nor and do not HC/Tn תַּעֲלוּ֙ 𐤕𐤏𐤋𐤅 taalu go up you shall cause to ascend HVqj2mp בֵּ֣ית 𐤁𐤉𐤕 beyt house house-of Beyt Aven HNp אָ֔וֶן 𐤀𐤅𐤍 aven of Aven worthless wickedness Beyt Aven HNp וְ/אַל 𐤅/𐤀𐤋 veal-3 nor and do not HC/Tn תִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ 𐤕𐤔𐤁𐤏𐤅 tishaveu swear you will swear an oath HVNj2mp חַי 𐤇𐤉 chay living living HAamsa יְהוָֽה 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 yehvah Nyambe (Lozi) the LORD Yahweh Yahweh HNp
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