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Swearing and lying,
    murdering and stealing,
        and adultery break out,[a]
    and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Therefore the land mourns,
    and all those living in it languish
with the animals of the field,
    and the birds of the heaven,
    and even the fish of the sea
        are being swept away.
Yet, let no one contend,
    and let no one accuse,
for with you, O priest, is my contention.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:2 The LXX adds “and adultery breaks out in the land”
  2. Hosea 4:4 The Hebrew is unclear; the NASB translates “For your people are like those who contend with the priest”