[1] Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel; for Yahweh has a
controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth,
nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land. [2] There is nothing but
swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing
adultery; they break out, and blood touches blood. [3] Therefore shall the
land mourn, and everyone who dwells therein shall languish, with the
animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea
also shall be taken away. [4] Yet let no man strive, neither let any man
reprove; for your people are as those who strive with the priest. [5] You
shall stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with you in
the night; and I will destroy your mother. [6] My people are destroyed for
lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject
you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law
of your God, I also will forget your children. [7] As they were multiplied,
so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame. [8] They
feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity. [9] It
shall be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways,
and will requite them their doings. [10] They shall eat, and not have
enough; they shall play the prostitute, and shall not increase; because
they have left off taking heed to Yahweh. [11] Prostitution and wine and
new wine take away the understanding. [12] My people ask counsel at their
stock, and their staff declares to them; for the spirit of prostitution has
caused them to err, and they have played the prostitute, [departing] from
under their God. [13] They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn
incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the
shadow of it is good: therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and
your brides commit adultery. [14] I will not punish your daughters when
they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for
[the men] themselves go apart with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the
prostitutes; and the people that does not understand shall be overthrown.
[15] Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don`t let Judah offend;
and don`t you come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As
Yahweh lives. [16] For Israel has behaved himself stubbornly, like a
stubborn heifer: now will Yahweh feed them as a lamb in a large place. [17]
Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone. [18] Their drink is become sour;
they play the prostitute continually; her rulers dearly love shame. [19]
The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be put to shame
because of their sacrifices.
