Hosea for Today: Part I of III

My Charge Against America

Hear the word of the Lord, America,

    because the Lord has a charge to bring

    against you who live in this land:

“There is no faithfulness, no love,

    no acknowledgment of God in this land.

There is only cursing, lying and murder,

    greedy bribery and treachery;

you break all bounds,

    and your bloodlust kills the unborn.

 

Because of this the land dries up,

    and all who live in it waste away;

the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky

    and the fish in the sea are swept away.

“But let no one bring a charge,

    let no one accuse another,

for your people are like those

    who bring charges against the righteous.

You stumble day and night,

    and your leaders stumble with you.

 

So I will destroy your givers of life—

you are destroyed from lack of knowledge.

“Because you have rejected knowledge,

    I also reject your false godliness;

because you have ignored the law of your God,

    I also will ignore the pleas of your children.

The more the righteous spoke the truth,

    The more you sinned against me;

    you exchanged me as God for something disgraceful.

 

You feed on your sins

    and relish your wickedness.

And it will be: Like you, like the fake godly ones.

    I will punish you both for your ways

    and repay you for your deeds.

“You will eat but not have enough;

    you will engage in investments but not flourish,

because you have deserted the Lord

    to give yourselves to riches, to possessions;

old wine and new wine

    you lose your understanding.

 

You consult false polls,

    and the horoscope speaks to you.

A spirit of lust and unbridled desire leads you astray;

    you are unfaithful to the One True God.

You sacrifice your own children,

   And for pleasure you prefer sex,

dwelling in your homes, yachts, and jets,

    where the shade is pleasant.

Therefore your children turn from wisdom

    and your daughters choose childlessness.

 

You Americans are obstinate,

    like a stubborn jackass.

How then can the Lord give you peaceful pasture

    like lambs in a fruitful meadow?

You have joined yourselves to idols;

    You will be left alone!

Even when your drinks are gone,

    your craving gnaws at your gut;

    your rulers love iniquity.

A whirlwind will sweep them away,

    and their deceptive elections bring them shame.