The Lord's Controversy
Hosea 4
The Lord brings a legal charge against the inhabitants of the land, for there is no truth, mercy, or knowledge of God, but cursing, lying, murder, theft, and adultery. Priests and people alike are condemned for ignorance of the law and for sacrificing on hills and under trees, given over to a spirit of whoredom and idolatry.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomson(p) HEAR a word of the Lord, O children of Israel! the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of this land; because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land—
BrentonHear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
GreekἈκούσατε λόγον Κυρίου υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ, ὅτι κρίσις τῷ Κυρίῳ πρὸς τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν γῆν, διότι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀλήθεια, οὐδὲ ἔλεος, οὐδὲ ἐπίγνωσις Θεοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
KJVHear 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.
JPSHear 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.
2
ThomsonCursing and lying and murder and theft and adultery are burst out on the land, and blood mingleth with blood;
BrentonCursing, and lying, and murder, and theft, and adultery abound in the land, and they mingle blood with blood.
GreekἈρὰ, καὶ ψεῦδος, καὶ φόνος καὶ κλοπὴ, καὶ μοιχεία κέχυται ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ αἵματα ἐφʼ αἵμασι μίσγουσι.
KJVBy swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
JPSSwearing and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery! They break all bounds, and blood toucheth blood.
3
Thomsontherefore the land shall mourn and be wasted with all its inhabitants, with the wild beasts of the fields and with the reptiles of the earth, and with the birds of the air. Even the fishes of the sea shall fail.
BrentonTherefore shall the land mourn, and shall be diminished with all that dwell in it, with the wild beasts of the field, and the reptiles of the earth, and with the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea shall fail:
GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο πενθήσει ἡ γῆ, καὶ σμικρυνθήσεται σὺν πᾶσι τοῖς κατοικοῦσιν αὐτὴν, σὺν τοῖς θηρίοις τοῦ ἀγροῦ, καὶ σὺν τοῖς ἑρπετοῖς τῆς γῆς, καὶ σὺν τοῖς πετεινοῖς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ οἱ ἰχθύες τῆς θαλάσσης ἐκλείψουσιν,
KJVTherefore 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.
JPSTherefore doth the land mourn, And every one that dwelleth therein doth languish, With the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven; Yea, the fishes of the sea also are taken away.
4
Thomson(J) In order that none may be judged, that none may reprove, this people of Mine shall be like a denounced priest,
Brentonthat neither any one may plead, nor any one reprove another: but my people are as a priest spoken against.
Greekὅπως μηδεὶς μήτε δικάζηται, μήτε ἐλέγχῃ μηδείς· ὁ δὲ λαός μου ὡς ἀντιλεγόμενος ἱερεύς.
KJVYet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
JPSYet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; For thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
5
Thomsonand shall be weak for years; and with thee the prophet shall be without strength. I have compared thy mother to the night;
BrentonTherefore they shall fall by day, and the prophet with thee shall fall: I have compared thy mother unto night.
GreekΚαὶ ἀσθενήσει ἡμέρας, καὶ ἀσθενήσει ὁ προφήτης μετὰ σοῦ· νυκτὶ ὡμοίωσα τὴν μητέρα σου.
KJVTherefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
JPSTherefore shalt thou stumble in the day, And the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; And I will destroy thy mother.
6
ThomsonMy people is like one that hath not knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, therefore I will reject thee from being My priest; as thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.
BrentonMy people are like as if they had no knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt not minister as priest to me: and as thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.
GreekὩμοιώθη ὁ λαός μου, ὡς οὐκ ἔχων γνῶσιν· ὅτι σὺ ἐπίγνωσιν ἀπώσω, κᾀγὼ ἀπώσομαί σε, τοῦμὴ ἱερατεύειν μοι· καὶ ἐπελάθου νόμον Θεοῦ σου, κᾀγὼ ἐπιλήσομαι τέκνων σου.
KJVMy 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.
JPSMy 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.
7
ThomsonIn proportion to their increase of sin against Me, I will turn their glory into shame.
BrentonAccording to their multitude, so they sinned against me: I will turn their glory into shame.
GreekΚατὰ τὸ πλῆθος αὐτῶν, οὕτως ἥμαρτόν μοι· τὴν δόξαν αὐτῶν εἰς ἀτιμίαν θήσομαι.
KJVAs they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
JPSThe more they were increased, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.
8
ThomsonShall they eat the sin offerings of My people and by their iniquities support their lives?
BrentonThey will devour the sins of my people, and will set their hearts on their iniquities.
GreekἉμαρτίας λαοῦ μου φάγονται· καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἀδικίαις αὐτῶν λήψονται τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν.
KJVThey eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
JPSThey feed on the sin of My people, And set their heart on their iniquity.
9
ThomsonIt shall indeed be that as is the people so shall be the priest; I will punish them for their ways and retribute to them their devices.
BrentonAnd the priest shall be as the people: and I will avenge on them their ways, and I will recompense to them their counsels.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται καθὼς ὁ λαὸς, οὕτως καὶ ὁ ἱερεύς· καὶ ἐκδικήσω ἐπʼ αὐτὸν τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ διαβούλια αὐτοῦ ἀνταποδώσω αὐτῷ.
KJVAnd there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
JPSAnd it is like people, like priest; And I will punish him for his ways, And will recompense him his doings.
10
ThomsonThough they eat they shall not be filled; they have committed fornications, and they cannot prosper. Because thy forsook the Lord,
BrentonAnd they shall eat, and shall not be satisfied: they have gone a-whoring, and shall by no means prosper: because they have left off to take heed to the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ φάγονται, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐμπλησθῶσιν· ἐπόρνευσαν, καὶ οὐ μὴ κατευθύνωσι· διότι τὸν Κύριον ἐγκατέλιπον τοῦ φυλάξαι.
KJVFor 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.
JPSAnd they shall eat, and not have enough, They shall commit harlotry, and shall not increase; Because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
11
Thomsonto attend to fornication and wine, therefore the heart of My people embraced drunkenness.
BrentonThe heart of my people has gladly engaged in fornication and wine and strong drink.
GreekΠορνείαν καὶ οἶνον καὶ μέθυσμα ἐδέξατο καρδία λαοῦ μου·
KJVWhoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
JPSHarlotry, wine, and new wine take away the heart.
12
ThomsonThey consulted by symbols, and gave themselves answers by their staves. By a spirit of fornication they were led astray; and they went a-whoring from their God.
BrentonThey asked counsel by means of signs, and they reported answer to them by their staves: they have gone astray in a spirit of whoredom, and gone grievously a-whoring from their God.
Greekἐν συμβόλοις ἐπηρώτων, καὶ ἐν ῥάβδοις αὐτοῦ ἀπήγγελλον αὐτῷ· πνεύματι πορνείας ἐπλανήθησαν, καὶ ἐξεπόρνευσαν ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ αὐτῶν.
KJVMy 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.
JPSMy 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.
13
ThomsonThey sacrificed on the tops of the mountains, and on the hills they burned incense, under an oak and a beech and a shady tree, because shade is good. For this cause your daughters will commit whoredom and your wives adultery;
BrentonThey have sacrificed on the tops of the mountains, and on the hills they have sacrificed under the oak and poplar, and under the shady tree, because the shade was good: therefore your daughters shall go a-whoring, and your daughters-in-law shall commit adultery.
GreekἘπὶ τὰς κορυφὰς τῶν ὀρέων ἐθυσίαζον, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς βουνοὺς ἔθυον ὑποκάτω δρυὸς, καὶ λεύκης, καὶ δένδρου συσκιάζοντος, ὅτι καλὸν σκέπη. διὰ τοῦτο ἐκπορνεύσουσιν αἱ θυγατέρες ὑμῶν, καὶ αἱ νύμφαι ὑμῶν μοιχεύσουσι.
KJVThey 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.
JPSThey 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. .
14
Thomsonand I will not punish your daughters, when they commit whoredom, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. Because they conversed with harlots and sacrificed with prostitutes, therefore My people, who were without understanding, were entangled with fornication.
BrentonAnd I will not visit upon your daughters when they shall commit fornication, nor your daughters-in-law when they shall commit adultery: for they themselves mingled themselves with harlots, and sacrificed with polluted ones, and the people that understood not entangled itself with a harlot.
GreekΚαὶ οὐ μὴ ἐπισκέψωμαι ἐπὶ τὰς θυγατέρας ὑμῶν ὅταν πορνεύσωσι, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς νύμφας ὑμῶν ὅταν μοιχεύωσιν· ὅτι αὐτοὶ μετὰ τῶν πορνῶν συνεφύροντο, καὶ μετὰ τῶν τετελεσμένων ἔθυον, καὶ ὁ λαὸς ὁ μὴ συνιὼν συνεπλέκετο μετὰ πόρνης.
KJVI 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.
JPSI 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.
15
ThomsonAs for thee, Israel, continue not in ignorance; and thou Juda go not to Galgala. Either go not up to the house of On,* or swear not by the living Lord.
BrentonBut thou, Israel, be not ignorant, and go ye not, men of Juda, to Galgala; and go not up to the house of On, and swear not by the living Lord.
GreekΣὺ δὲ Ἰσραὴλ μὴ ἀγνόει, καὶ Ἰούδα μὴ εἰσπορεύεσθε εἰς Γάλγαλα, καὶ μὴ ἀναβαίνετε εἰς τὸν οἶκον Ὦν, καὶ μὴ ὀμνύετε ζῶντα Κύριον.
KJVThough thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
JPSThough 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.’
16
ThomsonBecause Israel ran about madly like a heifer stung by a gad fly, the Lord will now feed them like a lamb in a roomy place.
BrentonFor Israel was maddened like a mad heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a wide place.
GreekΔιότι ὡς δάμαλις παροιστρῶσα παροίστρησεν Ἰσραήλ· νῦν νεμήσει αὐτοὺς Κύριος ὡς ἀμνὸν ἐν εὐρυχώρῳ.
KJVFor Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
JPSFor Israel is stubborn like a stubborn heifer; Now shall the LORD feed them as a lamb in a large place?
17
ThomsonEphraim associating with idols, laid stumbling blocks for himself.
BrentonEphraim, joined with idols, has laid stumbling-blocks in his own way.
GreekΜέτοχος εἰδώλων Ἐφραὶμ ἔθηκεν ἑαυτῷ σκάνδαλα,
KJVEphraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
JPSEphraim is joined to idols; Let him alone.
18
Thomson—
BrentonHe has chosen the Chananites: they have grievously gone a-whoring: they have loved dishonour through her insolence.
Greekἠρέτισε Χαναναίους· πορνεύοντες ἐξεπόρνευσαν, ἠγάπησαν ἀτιμίαν ἐκ φρυάγματος αὐτῆς.
KJV—
JPS—
19
Thomsonthou art a whirl of wind in its wings; but they shall be put to shame because of their altars.
BrentonThou art a blast of wind in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their altars.
GreekΣυστροφὴ πνεύματος σὺ εἶ ἐν ταῖς πτέρυξιν αὐτῆς, καὶ καταισχυνθήσονται ἐκ τῶν θυσιαστηρίων αὐτῶν.
KJVThe wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
JPSThe wind hath bound her up in her skirts; And they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.