1 L isten to the Word of the Lord, O people of Israel, because He has something against the people of the land. “They are not faithful or kind, and no one in the land knows God.

Hear the word of the Lord, You children of Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land.

2 T here is swearing, lying, killing, stealing, and sex sins. They are always hurting others, and there is one killing after another.

By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed.

3 T he land is filled with sorrow. Everyone who lives on it wastes away, together with the animals of the field and the birds of the sky. Even the fish of the sea are taken away.

Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.

4 “ Yet let no one put blame or guilt upon another. For your people are like those who argue with the religious leader.

“Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest.

5 Y ou will fall during the day, and the religious leaders will fall with you during the night. And I will destroy your mother.

Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother.

6 M y people are destroyed because they have not learned. You were not willing to learn. So I am not willing to have you be My religious leader. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will forget your children.

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

7 “ The more there were, the more they sinned against Me. I will change their shining-greatness into shame.

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

8 T hey feed on the sin of My people, and so they want them to sin more.

They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity.

9 T he religious leaders will be punished the same as the people. I will punish them for what they have done.

And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds.

10 T hey will eat, but not have enough. They will do sex sins, but the number of their children will not grow because they have not been faithful to the Lord. The Worship of False Gods

For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the Lord. The Idolatry of Israel

11 “ Their sinful ways and both old and new wine take away My people’s understanding.

“Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart.

12 T hey ask things of a wooden god and are answered by a stick of wood. A false spirit has led them the wrong way. They have not been faithful, and they have left their God.

My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, And their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, And they have played the harlot against their God.

13 T hey give gifts in worship on the tops of the mountains and burn special perfume on the hills. They do this under oak, poplar and terebinth trees, because their shadow is pleasing. So your daughters are like women who sell the use of their bodies, and your brides do sex sins.

They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, And burn incense on the hills, Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, Because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, And your brides commit adultery.

14 I will not punish your daughters when they are like women who sell the use of their bodies, or your brides when they do sex sins. For the men themselves go with the sinful women to give gifts in worship to false gods. And people without understanding will be destroyed.

“I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry, Nor your brides when they commit adultery; For the men themselves go apart with harlots, And offer sacrifices with a ritual harlot. Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled.

15 “ Even if you, Israel, are like women who sell the use of their bodies, do not let Judah become guilty. Do not go to Gilgal or up to Beth-aven. And do not swear, ‘As the Lord lives!’

“Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Let not Judah offend. Do not come up to Gilgal, Nor go up to Beth Aven, Nor swear an oath, saying, ‘As the Lord lives’—

16 T he people of Israel are strong-willed like a young cow. How then can the Lord feed them like a lamb in a large field?

“For Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn calf; Now the Lord will let them forage Like a lamb in open country.

17 E phraim is joined to false gods. Let him alone.

“Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone.

18 T heir strong drink is gone. They are like women who sell the use of their bodies all the time. Their rulers love shame.

Their drink is rebellion, They commit harlotry continually. Her rulers dearly love dishonor.

19 T he wind will carry them away, and they will be ashamed because they gave gifts to false gods.

The wind has wrapped her up in its wings, And they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.