{"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/asv/hosea/4","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-30T13:42:46.617Z"},"reference":{"translation":"ASV","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 Jehovah, ye children of Israel; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"There is nought but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood toucheth blood."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"And thou shalt stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; and I will destroy thy mother."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"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 also will forget thy children."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"And it shall be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will requite them their doings."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"And they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall play the harlot, and shall not increase; because they have left off taking heed to Jehovah."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the understanding."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of whoredom hath caused them to err, and they have played the harlot, departing from under their God."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes; and the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As Jehovah liveth."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will Jehovah 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 become sour; they play the harlot continually; her rulers dearly love shame."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"The wind hath wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be put to shame because of their sacrifices."}],"citation":{"inline":"Hosea 4 (ASV)","markdown":"[Hosea 4](https://primebible.com/asv/hosea/4)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* ASV. https://primebible.com/asv/hosea/4 (accessed 2026-05-30)."}}