1 L isten to the word of the Lord, O sons of Israel, For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land.

Hear 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.

2 T here is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.

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

3 T herefore the land mourns, 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 disappear.

Therefore 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.

4 Y et let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; For your people are like those who contend with the priest.

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

5 S o you will stumble by day, And the prophet also will stumble with you by night; And I will destroy your mother.

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

6 M y people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

My 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.

7 T he more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.

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

8 T hey feed on the sin of My people And direct their desire toward their iniquity.

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

9 A nd it will be, like people, like priest; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.

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

10 T hey will eat, but not have enough; They will play the harlot, but not increase, Because they have stopped giving heed to the Lord.

And 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.

11 H arlotry, wine and new wine take away the understanding.

Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the understanding.

12 M y people consult 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 from their God.

My 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.

13 T hey offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar and terebinth, Because their shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters play the harlot And your brides commit adultery.

They 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.

14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot Or your brides when they commit adultery, For the men themselves go apart with harlots And offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes; So the people without understanding are ruined.

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.

15 T hough you, Israel, play the harlot, Do not let Judah become guilty; Also do not go to Gilgal, Or go up to Beth-aven And take the oath: “As the Lord lives!”

Though 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.

16 S ince Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn heifer, Can the Lord now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field?

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

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

Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.

18 T heir liquor gone, They play the harlot continually; Their rulers dearly love shame.

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

19 T he wind wraps them in its wings, And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

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