Hosea 4:15

Warning to Judah: Do Not Join in Israel’s Apostasy!

4:15 Although you, O Israel, commit adultery,

do not let Judah become guilty!

Do not journey to Gilgal!

Do not go up to Beth Aven! ¹ 

Do not swear, “As surely as the Lord lives!”

Hosea 8:13

8:13 They offer up sacrificial gifts to me,

and eat the meat,

but the Lord does not accept their sacrifices. ² 

Soon he will remember their wrongdoing,

he will punish their sins,

and they will return to Egypt.

Hosea 10:12

10:12 Sow righteousness for yourselves,

reap unfailing love.

Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves,

for it is time to seek the Lord,

until he comes and showers deliverance ³  on you.

Hosea 14:9

Concluding Exhortation

14:9 Who is wise?

Let him discern ⁴  these things!

Who is discerning?

Let him understand them!

For the ways of the Lord are right;

the godly walk in them,

but in them the rebellious stumble.

[4:15]  ¹ sn Beth Aven means “house of wickedness” in Hebrew; it is a polemic reference to “Bethel,” which means “house of God.” Cf. CEV “at sinful Bethel.”

[8:13]  ² tn Heb “does not accept them”; the referent (their sacrifices) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[10:12]  ³ tn Or “righteousness” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “justice.”

[14:9]  ⁴ tn The shortened form of the prefix-conjugation verb וְיָבֵן (vÿyaven) indicates that it is a jussive rather than an imperfect. When a jussive comes from a superior to an inferior, it may connote exhortation and instruction or advice and counsel. For the functions of the jussive, see IBHS 568-70 §34.3.