1 H ear Yahweh’s word, you children of Israel; for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.

Listen 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.

2 T here is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.

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

3 T herefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells therein will waste away. all living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die.

The 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.

4 “ Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; For your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.

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

5 Y ou will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.

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

6 M y people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s law, I will also forget your children.

My 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.

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

“The more there were, the more they sinned against Me. I will change their shining-greatness 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 so they want them to sin more.

9 I t will be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds.

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

10 T hey will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned giving to Yahweh.

They 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

11 P rostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

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

12 M y people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God.

They 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.

13 T hey 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 play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery.

They 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.

14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, 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.

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.

15 “ Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don’t let Judah offend; and don’t come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, ‘As Yahweh lives.’

“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!’

16 F or Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow.

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

17 E phraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!

Ephraim is joined to false gods. Let him alone.

18 T heir drink has become sour. They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.

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

19 T he wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices.

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