1 H ear the word of Jehovah, ye children of Israel; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.

Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy (a pleading contention) with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness, love, pity and mercy, or knowledge of God in the land.

2 T here is nought but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

There is nothing but swearing and breaking faith and killing and stealing and committing adultery; they break out, one bloodshed following close on another.

3 T herefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

Therefore shall the land mourn, and all who dwell in it shall languish, together with the wild beasts of the open country and the birds of the heavens; yes, the fishes of the sea also shall be collected and taken away.

4 Y et let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove, for with you is My contention, O priest.

5 A nd thou shalt stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; and I will destroy thy mother.

And you shall stumble in the daytime, and the prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.

6 M y people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.

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 will also forget your children.

7 A s they were multiplied, so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame.

The more they increased and multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.

8 T hey feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.

They feed on the sin of My people and set their heart on their iniquity.

9 A nd it shall be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will requite them their doings.

And it shall be: Like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their doings.

10 A nd they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall play the harlot, and shall not increase; because they have left off taking heed to Jehovah.

For they shall eat and not have enough; they shall play the harlot and beget no increase, because they have forsaken the Lord for harlotry;

11 W horedom and wine and new wine take away the understanding.

Harlotry and wine and new wine take away the heart and the mind and the spiritual understanding.

12 M y people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of whoredom hath caused them to err, and they have played the harlot, departing from under their God.

My people ask counsel of their wood, and their staff gives them oracles and instructs them. For the spirit of harlotry has led them astray and they have played the harlot, withdrawing themselves from subjection to their God.

13 T hey sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery.

They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and they burn incense upon the hills and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because there the shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the harlot and your sons’ wives commit adultery.

14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes; and the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown.

I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, for themselves go aside in order to be alone with women who prostitute themselves for gain, and they sacrifice at the altar with dedicated harlots. Therefore the people without understanding shall stumble and fall and come to ruin.

15 T hough thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As Jehovah liveth.

Though you, Israel, play the harlot and worship idols, let not Judah offend and become guilty; come not to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As the Lord lives.

16 F or Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place.

For Israel has behaved stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. How then should he expect to be fed and treated by the Lord like a lamb in a large pasture?

17 E phraim is joined to idols; let him alone.

Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.

18 T heir drink is become sour; they play the harlot continually; her rulers dearly love shame.

Their drinking carousal over, they go habitually to play the harlot; rulers love shame more than her glory.

19 T he wind hath wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be put to shame because of their sacrifices.

The resistless wind has bound up in its wings or skirts, and they and their altars shall be put to shame because of their sacrifices.