Hosea 4

Hear 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.

Hør Isralitter, Herrens ord, thi Herren går i rette med Landets Folk. Thi ej er der Troskab, ej Godhed, ej kender man Gud i Landet.

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

Man sværger og lyver, myrder og stjæler, horer, gør Indbrud, og Blodskyld følger på Blodskyld.

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.

Derfor sørger Landet, og alt, hvad der bor der, sygner, Markens Dyr og Himlens Fugle; selv Havets Fisk svinder bort.

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

Dog skænde man ej, dog revse man ej, når mit Folk kun er som dets Præster.

Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.

Du skal styrte ved Dag, og med dig Profeten ved Nat.

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.

Mit Folk skal gå til Grunde, fordi det er uden Kundskab. Da du har vraget Kundskab, vrager jeg dig som Præst; du glemte din Guds Åbenbaring, så glemmer og jeg dine Sønner.

As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

Jo fler, des mere de synded, ombytted deres Ære med Skændsel;

They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

mit Folks Synd lever de af, dets Brøde hungrer de efter.

And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.

Men Præst skal det gå som Folk: jeg hjemsøger ham for hans Færd, hans Id gengælder jeg ham.

For 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.

De skal spise, men ikke mættes bole, men ej blive fler; thi de har sveget HERREN og holder fast ved Hor.

Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

Vin og Most tager Forstanden.

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.

Mit Folk rådspørger sit Træ, og Svaret giver dets Stok; thi Horeånd ledte dem vild, de boler sig bort fra deres Gud.

They 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.

De ofrer på Bjergenes Tinder, på Højene brænder de Ofre under en Eg, en Poppel, en Terebinte, thi Skyggen er god. Så horer jo og eders Døtre, så boler jo og eders Kvinder;

I 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.

jeg straffer ej Døtrenes Hor, ej Kvinderne for deres Bolen; thi selv går de bort med Horer ofrer sammen med Skøger; og det uvise Folk drages ned.

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.

Men selv om du, Israel, horer, må Juda ej gøre sig skyldigt. Gå ikke over til Gilgal, drag ikke op til Bet-Aven, sværg ikke: "Så sandt HERREN lever!"

For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

Thi som en uvan Ko er Israel uvan, skal HERREN så lade dem græsse i Frihed som Lam?

Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Efraim er bundet til Afgudsbilleder; lad ham fare!

Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.

Deres Drikken er skejet ud. Hor har de bedrevet; højt har deres Skjolde elsket Skændsel.

The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

Et Vejr har omspændt dem med sine Vinger, og de skal blive til Skamme for deres Ofre.