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

Verse 1
Hear Hear! Hear! the word word of word of of the LORD Yahweh Yahweh O sons sons of sons of of Israel El-Contends Yiserael for for/because for a case dispute dispute for the LORD to Yahweh to Yahweh against if / whether with the inhabitants dwellers of dwellers of of the land the earth the land because for/because because there is no there is not there is not truth firm reliability truth nor and there is not and there is not faithful love covenant-loyal love steadfast love nor and there is not and there is not knowledge knowledge-of knowledge-of of God mighty ones Elohim in the land in the land in the land
שִׁמְע֥וּ 𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤅 shimeu Hear Hear! Hear! HVqv2mp דְבַר 𐤃𐤁𐤓 devar Ndaba (Zulu) the word word of word of HNcmsc יְהוָ֖ה 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 yehvah Nyambe (Lozi) of the LORD Yahweh Yahweh HNp בְּנֵ֣י 𐤁𐤍𐤉 beney Bene (Bemba) O sons sons of sons of HNcmpc יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל 𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋 yiserael of Israel El-Contends Yiserael HNp כִּ֣י 𐤊𐤉 ki for for/because for HC רִ֤יב 𐤓𐤉𐤁 riv a case dispute dispute HNcbsa לַֽ/יהוָה֙ 𐤋/𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 layhvah Nyambe (Lozi) for the LORD to Yahweh to Yahweh HR/Np עִם 𐤏𐤌 im against if / whether with HR יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י 𐤉𐤅𐤔𐤁𐤉 yoshevey the inhabitants dwellers of dwellers of HVqrmpc הָ/אָ֔רֶץ 𐤄/𐤀𐤓𐤑 haarets Ayé (Yoruba) of the land the earth the land HTd/Ncbsa כִּ֠י 𐤊𐤉 ki-2 because for/because because HC אֵין 𐤀𐤉𐤍 eyn there is no there is not there is not HTn אֱמֶ֧ת 𐤀𐤌𐤕 emet truth firm reliability truth HNcfsa וְֽ/אֵין 𐤅/𐤀𐤉𐤍 veeyn nor and there is not and there is not HC/Tn חֶ֛סֶד 𐤇𐤎𐤃 chesed faithful love covenant-loyal love steadfast love HNcmsa וְ/אֵֽין 𐤅/𐤀𐤉𐤍 veeyn-2 nor and there is not and there is not HC/Tn דַּ֥עַת 𐤃𐤏𐤕 daat knowledge knowledge-of knowledge-of HNcfsc אֱלֹהִ֖ים 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌 elohim Mulimu (Lozi) of God mighty ones Elohim HNcmpa בָּ/אָֽרֶץ 𐤁/𐤀𐤓𐤑 baarets Ayé (Yoruba) in the land in the land in the land HRd/Ncbsa
Verse 3
Therefore upon upon so thus thus will mourn she will mourn it will mourn the land the earth the earth and will languish and he was utterly weakened and it was utterly weakened every entirety of all of who dwells dwelling-one of dwelling-one of in it — in her with the beasts in living-being of in living-being of of the field the open field the open field and with the birds and in flying-creature of and in bird of of the heavens the lofty-heights the heavens even and also and also the fish fishes of fishes of of the sea the sea the sea will be gathered up they will be gathered they will be gathered
עַל 𐤏𐤋 al Therefore upon upon HR כֵּ֣ן 𐤊𐤍 ken cine (Bemba) so thus thus HTm תֶּאֱבַ֣ל 𐤕𐤀𐤁𐤋 teeval will mourn she will mourn it will mourn HVqi3fs הָ/אָ֗רֶץ 𐤄/𐤀𐤓𐤑 haarets Ayé (Yoruba) the land the earth the earth HTd/Ncbsa וְ/אֻמְלַל֙ 𐤅/𐤀𐤌𐤋𐤋 veumelal and will languish and he was utterly weakened and it was utterly weakened HC/VKq3ms כָּל 𐤊𐤋 kal kila (Swahili) every entirety of all of HNcmsc יוֹשֵׁ֣ב 𐤉𐤅𐤔𐤁 yoshev who dwells dwelling-one of dwelling-one of HVqrmsa בָּ֔/הּ 𐤁/𐤄 bah in it in her HR/Sp3fs בְּ/חַיַּ֥ת 𐤁/𐤇𐤉𐤕 bechayat hai (Swahili) with the beasts in living-being of in living-being of HR/Ncfsc הַ/שָּׂדֶ֖ה 𐤄/𐤔𐤃𐤄 hasadeh of the field the open field the open field HTd/Ncmsa וּ/בְ/ע֣וֹף 𐤅/𐤁/𐤏𐤅𐤐 uveof and with the birds and in flying-creature of and in bird of HC/R/Ncmsc הַ/שָּׁמָ֑יִם 𐤄/𐤔𐤌𐤉𐤌 hashamayim sama (Kongo) of the heavens the lofty-heights the heavens HTd/Ncmpa וְ/גַם 𐤅/𐤂𐤌 vegam even and also and also HC/Ta דְּגֵ֥י 𐤃𐤂𐤉 degey dagaa (Swahili) the fish fishes of fishes of HNcmpc הַ/יָּ֖ם 𐤄/𐤉𐤌 hayam of the sea the sea the sea HTd/Ncmsa יֵאָסֵֽפוּ 𐤉𐤀𐤎𐤐𐤅 yeasefu will be gathered up they will be gathered they will be gathered HVNi3mp
Verse 6
are destroyed they were silenced they are destroyed my people my people my people for lack of from lack of for lack of knowledge the knowledge the knowledge because for/because because you you you knowledge the knowledge the knowledge have rejected you spurned you rejected and I will reject you I will reject you and I will reject you from being priest from serving as priest from serving as priest to me — to me and you have forgotten and you forgot and you forgot the law instruction of instruction of of your God your Mighty One your Elohim I will forget I will forget I will forget your children your sons your sons also also also I I I
נִדְמ֥וּ 𐤍𐤃𐤌𐤅 nidemu dima (Kikongo) are destroyed they were silenced they are destroyed HVNp3cp עַמִּ֖/י 𐤏𐤌/𐤉 ami my people my people my people HNcmsc/Sp1cs מִ/בְּלִ֣י 𐤌/𐤁𐤋𐤉 mibeli for lack of from lack of for lack of HR/Ncmsc הַ/דָּ֑עַת 𐤄/𐤃𐤏𐤕 hadaat knowledge the knowledge the knowledge HTd/Ncfsa כִּֽי 𐤊𐤉 ki because for/because because HC אַתָּ֞ה 𐤀𐤕𐤄 atah you you you HPp2ms הַ/דַּ֣עַת 𐤄/𐤃𐤏𐤕 hadaat-2 knowledge the knowledge the knowledge HTd/Ncfsa מָאַ֗סְתָּ 𐤌𐤀𐤎𐤕 maaseta have rejected you spurned you rejected HVqp2ms וְ/אֶמְאָֽסְא/ךָ֙ 𐤅/𐤀𐤌𐤀𐤎𐤀/𐤊 veemeasekha and I will reject you I will reject you and I will reject you HC/Vqi1cs/Sp2ms מִ/כַּהֵ֣ן 𐤌/𐤊𐤄𐤍 mikahen from being priest from serving as priest from serving as priest HR/Vpc לִ֔/י 𐤋/𐤉 li to me to me HR/Sp1cs וַ/תִּשְׁכַּח֙ 𐤅/𐤕𐤔𐤊𐤇 vatishekach and you have forgotten and you forgot and you forgot HC/Vqw2ms תּוֹרַ֣ת 𐤕𐤅𐤓𐤕 torat the law instruction of instruction of HNcfsc אֱלֹהֶ֔י/ךָ 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉/𐤊 eloheykha Mulimu (Lozi) of your God your Mighty One your Elohim HNcmpc/Sp2ms אֶשְׁכַּ֥ח 𐤀𐤔𐤊𐤇 eshekach I will forget I will forget I will forget HVqi1cs בָּנֶ֖י/ךָ 𐤁𐤍𐤉/𐤊 baneykha Bene (Bemba) your children your sons your sons HNcmpc/Sp2ms גַּם 𐤂𐤌 gam also also also HTa אָֽנִי 𐤀𐤍𐤉 ani Ine (Bemba) I I I HPp1cs
Verse 12
my people my people my people in his wood in his tree in his wood asks he will ask he will ask and his staff and his branch-staff and his staff declares he will make known he will declare to him — to him for for/because for a spirit breath of spirit of of harlotries acts of harlotry harlotry has led astray he caused to wander astray has led astray and they have whored and they prostituted themselves and they prostituted themselves from under from beneath from under their gods their mighty ones their Elohim
עַמִּ/י֙ 𐤏𐤌/𐤉 ami my people my people my people HNcmsc/Sp1cs בְּ/עֵצ֣/וֹ 𐤁/𐤏𐤑/𐤅 beetso in his wood in his tree in his wood HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms יִשְׁאָ֔ל 𐤉𐤔𐤀𐤋 yisheal asks he will ask he will ask HVqi3ms וּ/מַקְל֖/וֹ 𐤅/𐤌𐤒𐤋/𐤅 umaqelo and his staff and his branch-staff and his staff HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms יַגִּ֣יד 𐤉𐤂𐤉𐤃 yagid declares he will make known he will declare HVhi3ms ל֑/וֹ 𐤋/𐤅 lo to him to him HR/Sp3ms כִּ֣י 𐤊𐤉 ki for for/because for HC ר֤וּחַ 𐤓𐤅𐤇 rucha a spirit breath of spirit of HNcbsc זְנוּנִים֙ 𐤆𐤍𐤅𐤍𐤉𐤌 zenunim of harlotries acts of harlotry harlotry HNcmpa הִתְעָ֔ה 𐤄𐤕𐤏𐤄 hiteah has led astray he caused to wander astray has led astray HVhp3ms וַ/יִּזְנ֖וּ 𐤅/𐤉𐤆𐤍𐤅 vayizenu and they have whored and they prostituted themselves and they prostituted themselves HC/Vqw3mp מִ/תַּ֥חַת 𐤌/𐤕𐤇𐤕 mitachat from under from beneath from under HR/R אֱלֹהֵי/הֶֽם 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉/𐤄𐤌 eloheyhem Mulimu (Lozi) their gods their mighty ones their Elohim HNcmpc/Sp3mp
Verse 13
upon upon upon tops of heads of heads of the mountains the mountains the mountains they sacrifice they slaughter for sacrifice they slaughter for sacrifice and upon and upon and upon the hills the hills the hills they burn incense they make aromatic smoke rise they will burn incense under under; in place of under oak mighty oak oak and poplar pale-barked tree and poplar and terebinth strong oak tree and terebinth because for/because because good good good its shade Shade-woman its shade therefore upon therefore thus thus thus play the harlot they (fem.) will act as prostitutes they (fem.) will act as prostitutes your daughters your daughters your daughters and your daughters-in-law and your newly-married women and your daughters-in-law commit adultery they will commit adultery they will commit adultery
עַל 𐤏𐤋 al upon upon upon HR רָאשֵׁ֨י 𐤓𐤀𐤔𐤉 rashey tops of heads of heads of HNcmpc הֶ/הָרִ֜ים 𐤄/𐤄𐤓𐤉𐤌 heharim the mountains the mountains the mountains HTd/Ncmpa יְזַבֵּ֗חוּ 𐤉𐤆𐤁𐤇𐤅 yezabechu they sacrifice they slaughter for sacrifice they slaughter for sacrifice HVpi3mp וְ/עַל 𐤅/𐤏𐤋 veal and upon and upon and upon HC/R הַ/גְּבָעוֹת֙ 𐤄/𐤂𐤁𐤏𐤅𐤕 hagevaot the hills the hills the hills HTd/Ncfpa יְקַטֵּ֔רוּ 𐤉𐤒𐤈𐤓𐤅 yeqateru they burn incense they make aromatic smoke rise they will burn incense HVpi3mp תַּ֣חַת 𐤕𐤇𐤕 tachat under under; in place of under HR אַלּ֧וֹן 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤍 alon oak mighty oak oak HNcmsa וְ/לִבְנֶ֛ה 𐤅/𐤋𐤁𐤍𐤄 veliveneh and poplar pale-barked tree and poplar HC/Ncmsa וְ/אֵלָ֖ה 𐤅/𐤀𐤋𐤄 veelah and terebinth strong oak tree and terebinth HC/Ncfsa כִּ֣י 𐤊𐤉 ki because for/because because HC ט֣וֹב 𐤈𐤅𐤁 tov good good good HAamsa צִלָּ֑/הּ 𐤑𐤋/𐤄 tsilah its shade Shade-woman its shade HNcmsc/Sp3fs עַל 𐤏𐤋 al-2 therefore upon therefore HR כֵּ֗ן 𐤊𐤍 ken cine (Bemba) thus thus thus HTm תִּזְנֶ֨ינָה֙ 𐤕𐤆𐤍𐤉𐤍𐤄 tizeneynah play the harlot they (fem.) will act as prostitutes they (fem.) will act as prostitutes HVqi3fp בְּנ֣וֹתֵי/כֶ֔ם 𐤁𐤍𐤅𐤕𐤉/𐤊𐤌 benoteykhem your daughters your daughters your daughters HNcfpc/Sp2mp וְ/כַלּוֹתֵי/כֶ֖ם 𐤅/𐤊𐤋𐤅𐤕𐤉/𐤊𐤌 vekhaloteykhem and your daughters-in-law and your newly-married women and your daughters-in-law HC/Ncfpc/Sp2mp תְּנָאַֽפְנָה 𐤕𐤍𐤀𐤐𐤍𐤄 tenaafenah commit adultery they will commit adultery they will commit adultery HVpi3fp
Verse 14
not not not I will punish I will attend to I will attend to over/against upon upon your daughters your daughters your daughters when for/because because they play the harlot they (fem.) will act as prostitutes they (fem.) will act as prostitutes nor over and upon and upon your brides your brides your brides when for/because because they commit adultery they will commit adultery they will commit adultery for for/because for they/themselves they they with if / whether with the harlots the prostituting women the prostituting women go apart they will divide apart they will divide apart and with and if and with the temple prostitutes the consecrated cult-prostitutes the consecrated cult-prostitutes they sacrifice they slaughter for sacrifice they slaughter for sacrifice and people and a people and a people not not not understands He discerns it will understand shall be ruined will be overturned will be overturned
לֹֽא 𐤋𐤀 lo not not not HTn אֶפְק֨וֹד 𐤀𐤐𐤒𐤅𐤃 efeqod I will punish I will attend to I will attend to HVqi1cs עַל 𐤏𐤋 al over/against upon upon HR בְּנוֹתֵי/כֶ֜ם 𐤁𐤍𐤅𐤕𐤉/𐤊𐤌 benoteykhem your daughters your daughters your daughters HNcfpc/Sp2mp כִּ֣י 𐤊𐤉 ki when for/because because HC תִזְנֶ֗ינָה 𐤕𐤆𐤍𐤉𐤍𐤄 tizeneynah they play the harlot they (fem.) will act as prostitutes they (fem.) will act as prostitutes HVqi3fp וְ/עַל 𐤅/𐤏𐤋 veal nor over and upon and upon HC/R כַּלּֽוֹתֵי/כֶם֙ 𐤊𐤋𐤅𐤕𐤉/𐤊𐤌 kaloteykhem your brides your brides your brides HNcfpc/Sp2mp כִּ֣י 𐤊𐤉 ki-2 when for/because because HC תְנָאַ֔פְנָה 𐤕𐤍𐤀𐤐𐤍𐤄 tenaafenah they commit adultery they will commit adultery they will commit adultery HVpi3fp כִּי 𐤊𐤉 ki-3 for for/because for HC הֵם֙ 𐤄𐤌 hem they/themselves they they HPp3mp עִם 𐤏𐤌 im with if / whether with HR הַ/זֹּנ֣וֹת 𐤄/𐤆𐤍𐤅𐤕 hazonot the harlots the prostituting women the prostituting women HTd/Vqrfpa יְפָרֵ֔דוּ 𐤉𐤐𐤓𐤃𐤅 yefaredu go apart they will divide apart they will divide apart HVpi3mp וְ/עִם 𐤅/𐤏𐤌 veim and with and if and with HC/R הַ/קְּדֵשׁ֖וֹת 𐤄/𐤒𐤃𐤔𐤅𐤕 haqedeshot the temple prostitutes the consecrated cult-prostitutes the consecrated cult-prostitutes HTd/Aafpa יְזַבֵּ֑חוּ 𐤉𐤆𐤁𐤇𐤅 yezabechu they sacrifice they slaughter for sacrifice they slaughter for sacrifice HVpi3mp וְ/עָ֥ם 𐤅/𐤏𐤌 veam and people and a people and a people HC/Ncmsa לֹֽא 𐤋𐤀 lo-2 not not not HTn יָבִ֖ין 𐤉𐤁𐤉𐤍 yavin understands He discerns it will understand HVqi3ms יִלָּבֵֽט 𐤉𐤋𐤁𐤈 yilavet shall be ruined will be overturned will be overturned HVNi3ms
Verse 15
though if / whether though you play the harlot one who prostitutes himself you play the harlot you you you Israel El-Contends Yiserael let not upon / over let not become guilty he will incur guilt becoming guilty Judah Yah Is Praised Yehudah and not and do not and let not come you will come you enter to Gilgal the Gilgal the Gilegal nor and do not nor let go up you shall cause to ascend you go up house house-of Beyt Aven of Aven worthless wickedness Beyt Aven nor and do not nor let swear you will swear an oath you swear living living living the LORD Yahweh Yahweh
אִם 𐤀𐤌 im though if / whether though HC זֹנֶ֤ה 𐤆𐤍𐤄 zoneh you play the harlot one who prostitutes himself you play the harlot HVqrmsa אַתָּה֙ 𐤀𐤕𐤄 atah you you you HPp2ms יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל 𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋 yiserael Israel El-Contends Yiserael HNp אַל 𐤀𐤋 al let not upon / over let not HTn יֶאְשַׁ֖ם 𐤉𐤀𐤔𐤌 yeesham become guilty he will incur guilt becoming guilty HVqj3ms יְהוּדָ֑ה 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤄 yehudah Judah Yah Is Praised Yehudah HNp וְ/אַל 𐤅/𐤀𐤋 veal and not and do not and let not HC/Tn תָּבֹ֣אוּ 𐤕𐤁𐤀𐤅 tavou come you will come you enter HVqj2mp הַ/גִּלְגָּ֗ל 𐤄/𐤂𐤋𐤂𐤋 hagilegal to Gilgal the Gilgal the Gilegal HTd/Np וְ/אַֽל 𐤅/𐤀𐤋 veal-2 nor and do not nor let HC/Tn תַּעֲלוּ֙ 𐤕𐤏𐤋𐤅 taalu Aleya (Bemba) go up you shall cause to ascend you go up 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 nor let HC/Tn תִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ 𐤕𐤔𐤁𐤏𐤅 tishaveu swear you will swear an oath you swear HVNj2mp חַי 𐤇𐤉 chay hai (Swahili) living living living HAamsa יְהוָֽה 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 yehvah Nyambe (Lozi) the LORD Yahweh Yahweh HNp
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