{"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/erv/hosea/4","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-06-10T01:56:18.302Z"},"reference":{"translation":"ERV","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, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath 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":"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 fowls of heaven; 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 reward them their doings."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"And they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD."},{"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 gone a whoring 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 commit whoredom, and your brides commit adultery."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for they themselves go apart with whores, and they sacrifice with the harlots: 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 the LORD liveth."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will the LORD 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 commit whoredom continually; her rulers dearly love shame."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"The wind hath wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices."}],"citation":{"inline":"Hosea 4 (ERV)","markdown":"[Hosea 4](https://primebible.com/erv/hosea/4)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* ERV. https://primebible.com/erv/hosea/4 (accessed 2026-06-10)."}}