aListen to the word
of the LORD
, O sons
of Israel
, For the LORD
has a bcase
against
the inhabitants
of the land
, Because
there
is cno
1faithfulness
or 2kindness
Or dknowledge
of God
in the land
.
There is aswearing, bdeception
, cmurder
, dstealing
and eadultery
. They employ
violence
, so that fbloodshed
1follows
bloodshed
.
Therefore the land
amourns
, And everyone
who lives
in it languishes
Along with the beasts
of the field
and the birds
of the sky
, And also
the fish
of the sea
1disappear
.
Yet let no
one
1 afind
fault
, and let none
offer
reproof
; For your people
are like those who bcontend
with the priest
.
So you will astumble by day
, And the prophet
also
will stumble
with you by night
; And I will destroy
your bmother
.
aMy people are destroyed
for lack
of knowledge
. Because
you have brejected
knowledge
, I also will creject
you from being My priest
. Since you have dforgotten
the elaw
of your God
, I also
will forget
your children
.
The more they amultiplied, the more
they sinned
against Me; I will bchange
their glory
into shame
.
They afeed on the 1sin
of My people
And bdirect
their desire
toward
their iniquity
.
And it will be, like people, alike priest
; So I will bpunish
them for their ways
And repay
them for their deeds
.
aThey will eat, but not have
enough
; They will bplay
the harlot
, but not increase
, Because
they have 1 cstopped
giving
heed
to the LORD
.
Harlotry, awine
and new
wine
take
away the 1understanding
.
My people aconsult
their wooden
idol, and their diviner's wand
informs
them; For a spirit
of harlotry
has led
them astray
, And they have played
the harlot
, departing 1from their God
.
They offer sacrifices
on the atops
of the mountains
And 1 bburn
incense
on the hills
, cUnder
oak
, poplar
and terebinth
, Because
their shade
is pleasant
. Therefore
your daughters
play
the harlot
And your 2brides
commit
adultery
.
I will not punish your daughters
when
they play
the harlot
Or your 1brides
when
they commit
adultery
, For the men themselves
go
apart
with harlots
And offer
sacrifices
with atemple
prostitutes
; So the people
without
understanding
are 2ruined
.
Though you, Israel
, play
the harlot
, Do not let Judah
become
guilty
; Also do not go
to aGilgal
, Or go
up to Beth-aven
bAnd take
the oath
: "As the LORD
lives
!"
Since Israel
is astubborn
Like a stubborn
heifer
, 1Can the LORD
now
bpasture
them Like a lamb
in a large
field
?
Ephraim is joined
to aidols
; bLet
him alone
.
Their liquor gone
, They play
the harlot
continually
; aTheir 1rulers
dearly
love
shame
.
aThe wind wraps
them in its wings
, And they will be ashamed
because
of their sacrifices
.