Hosea 4:4
King James Version (KJV)
Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
Translations
Hosea 4:4 - Amplified Bible
Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove [another--do not waste your time in mutual recriminations], for with you is My contention, O priest.
Hosea 4:4 - American Standard Version
Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
Hosea 4:4 - Bible in Basic English
Let no man go to law or make protests, for your people are like those who go to law with a priest.
Hosea 4:4 - Darby Bible
Yet let no man strive, and let no man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
Hosea 4:4 - English Standard Version
Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest.
Hosea 4:4 - King James Version
Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
Hosea 4:4 - La Biblia de las Americas
Pero que nadie contienda ni nadie reprenda;
porque tu pueblo es como los que contienden con el sacerdote.
Hosea 4:4 - The Message
"But dont look for someone to blame.
No finger pointing!
You, priest, are the one in the dock.
You stumble around in broad daylight,
And then the prophets take over and stumble all night.
Your mother is as bad as you.
My people are ruined
because they dont know whats right or true.
Because youve turned your back on knowledge,
Ive turned my back on you priests.
Because you refuse to recognize the revelation of God,
Im no longer recognizing your children.
The more priests, the more sin.
They traded in their glory for shame.
They pig out on my peoples sins.
They cant wait for the latest in evil.
The result: You cant tell the people from the priests,
the priests from the people.
Im on my way to make them both pay
and take the consequences of the bad lives theyve lived.
Theyll eat and be as hungry as ever,
have sex and get no satisfaction.
They walked out on me, their God,
for a life of rutting with whores.
Hosea 4:4 - New American Standard Bible
Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; For your people are like those who contend with the priest.
Hosea 4:4 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy
Pero que nadie contienda ni nadie reprenda;
Porque tu pueblo es como los que contienden con el sacerdote.
Hosea 4:4 - World English Bible
Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for your people are as those who strive with the priest.
Hosea 4:4 - Young's Living Translation
Only, let no one strive, nor reprove a man, And thy people [are] as those striving with a priest.
Hosea 4:4 - Additional Comments
The situation has gotten so severe that they are told not to bother trying to rebuke any others in Israel at that time. As there comes a time for a physician must determine when a patient gets to the point where they can no longer be cured, here these sinners have gone beyond where they can ever be cured. The implication is while there is hope we are to reprove and rebuke (see notes on Amos 7:10), to bring a sinner to repentance from their erred ways. Giving rebuke was one of the laws of Moses (Lev 19:17).
Sometimes there's a need to give direct and strong reproof, to encourage the sinner to change. What a sign then when a people have fallen so deep into sin that they cannot be drawn out of it, and God tells you to not even bother trying.
What a bad sign for a people when God says don't bother dealing any more with these people, for they are hopeless!
The Israelites had gotten so low that they no longer simply ignored the priests (2 Chr 24:19), but they now would fight against them (like when they stoned the prophet Zechariah to death -2 Chr 24:20-22, Matt 23:35). This flies in the face of sin.
Most people who live with sin, who know it and want to keep it, simply stay away from the things of God, which might mean church or Christians they know. They forfeit the benefit of reproof. Few enjoy reproof, but it is necessary for us to get where we need to be for success.
Another example of when a prophet ceases warning of consequences - 2 Chr 25:16.
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