1Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel, because Yahweh has a lawsuit against the inhabitants of the land. Indeed there is no truth, nor covenant faithfulness, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.
3Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone who lives in it will waste away, along with the animals of the field and the birds of the heavens, yes, the fish of the sea will also die.
4Yet let no one bring a charge, nor let anyone accuse; for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.
5You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night, and I will destroy your mother.
6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you so that you will not be a priest to me. Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
7As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame.
8They feed on the sin of my people and set their heart on their iniquity.
9It will be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways and will repay them for their deeds.
10They will eat, and not have enough; they will prostitute themselves but will not multiply; all because they have abandoned Yahweh to give themselves
11to prostitution; wine, and new wine, which take away their understanding.
12My people consult with their wooden idol and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed a spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God.
13They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters prostitute themselves and your brides commit adultery.
14I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes. So the people without understanding will come to ruin.
15Though you, Israel, prostitute yourself do not let Judah become guilty! And do not go to Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear an oath, saying, “As Yahweh lives.”
16For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Can Yahweh now pasture them like a lamb in a meadow?
17Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!
18Their drink has become sour. They prostitute themselves continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.
19The wind has wrapped her up in its wings, and they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
REV Bible
