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There is cursing, lying, murder, theft, and adultery.
    They break out in violence, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Therefore the land mourns,[a]
    and everyone who dwells in it wastes away
    along with the wild animals and the birds in the sky.
    Even the fish of the sea have been removed.
Yet no one should bring charges.
    No one should accuse,
    because your people are like those who dispute with a priest.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:3 Or dries up
  2. Hosea 4:4 The verse is difficult. The translation follows the Hebrew and Greek texts. Translations that render the third line my contention is with you, O priest emend the text to obtain this rendering. The point of the verse seems to be that it is useless to bring charges against these people, because they would not accept the judgment even of a priest.

There is only cursing,[a] lying(A) and murder,(B)
    stealing(C) and adultery;(D)
they break all bounds,
    and bloodshed follows bloodshed.(E)
Because of this the land dries up,(F)
    and all who live in it waste away;(G)
the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
    and the fish in the sea are swept away.(H)

“But let no one bring a charge,
    let no one accuse another,
for your people are like those
    who bring charges against a priest.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:2 That is, to pronounce a curse on

By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

Therefore 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.

Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

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