- 1Hear 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.
- 2By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
- 3Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
- 4Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
- 5Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
- 6 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 will also forget thy children.
- 7As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
- 8They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
- 9And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
- 10For 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.
- 11Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
- 12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
- 13They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
- 14I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
- 15 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, The LORD liveth.
- 16For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
- 17Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
- 18Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
- 19The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
KING JAMES VERSION
HOSEA 4
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
Hosea 4 — The Land Mourns for Lack of Knowledge.
About this illustration
The composition centers the land mourns for lack of knowledge as the chapter’s defining visual. It keeps judgment non-graphic, reserves a quiet title area, and avoids written words and any bodily depiction of God.
Scripture basis: Hosea 4:1–19King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
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