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4.11
HOSEA

11Harlotry, wine, and new wine take away the heart.
12My people ask counsel at their stock,
And their staff declareth unto them;
For the spirit of harlotry hath caused them to err,
And they have gone astray from under their God.
13They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains,
And offer upon the hills,
Under oaks and poplars and terebinths,
Because the shadow thereof is good;
Therefore your daughters commit harlotry,
And your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry,
Nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery;
For they themselves consort with lewd women,
And they sacrifice with harlots;
And the people that is without understanding is distraught.
15Though thou, Israel, play the harlot,
Yet let not Judah become guilty;
And come not ye unto Gilgal,
Neither go ye up to Beth-aven,
Nor swear: 'As the Lord liveth.'
16For Israel is stubborn like a stubborn heifer;
Now shall the Lord feed them as a lamb in a large place?
17Ephraim is joined to idols;
Let him alone.
18When their carouse is over,
They take to harlotry;
Her rulers deeply love dishonour.
19The wind hath bound her up in her skirts;
And they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
5Hear this, O ye priests,
And attend, ye house of Israel,
And give ear, O house of the king,
For unto you pertaineth the judgment;
For ye have been a snare on Mizpah,
And a net spread upon Tabor.
2And they that fall away are gone deep in making slaughter;
And I am, rejected of them all.
3I, even I, know Ephraim,
And Israel is not hid from Me;
For now, O Ephraim, thou hast committed harlotry,
Israel is defiled.
4Their doings will not suffer them
To return unto their God;
For the spirit of harlotry is within them,
And they know not the Lord.
5But the pride of Israel shall testify to his face;
And Israel and Ephraim shall stumble in their iniquity,
Judah also shall stumble with them.
6With their flocks and with their herds they shall go
To seek the Lord, but they shall not find Him;
He hath withdrawn Himself from them.
7They have dealt treacherously against the Lord,
For they have begotten strange children;
Now shall the new moon devour them with their portions.
8Blow ye the horn in Gibeah,
And the trumpet in Ramah;
Sound an alarm at Beth-aven:
'Behind thee, O Benjamin!'
9Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke;
Among the tribes of Israel do I make known that which shall surely be.

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