{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/akjv/hosea/4","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-30T19:02:25.843Z"},"reference":{"translation":"AKJV","book":"Hosea","bookSlug":"hosea","chapter":4,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":3,"nextChapter":5,"totalChapters":14,"totalVerses":19},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood touches blood."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwells therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yes, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for your people are as they that strive with the priest."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"Therefore shall you fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with you in the night, and I will destroy your mother."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit prostitution, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Prostitution and wine and new wine take away the heart."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declares to them: for the spirit of prostitutions has caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit prostitution, and your spouses shall commit adultery."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"I will not punish your daughters when they commit prostitution, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that does not understand shall fall."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"Though you, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not you to Gilgal, neither go you up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD lives."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"For Israel slides back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place."},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone."},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"Their drink is sour: they have committed prostitution continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give you."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"The wind has bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices."}],"citation":{"inline":"Hosea 4 (AKJV)","markdown":"[Hosea 4](https://primebible.com/akjv/hosea/4)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* AKJV. https://primebible.com/akjv/hosea/4 (accessed 2026-05-30)."}}