1 Hear the Word of Jehovah, you sons of Israel, for Jehovah has a complaint against the inhabitants of the land; for there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 Swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and the committing of adultery burst forth. And blood touches against blood.
3 On account of this the land shall mourn, and every one living there shall languish, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens; yes, even the fish of the sea shall be taken away.
4 Yet let no man strive with nor reprove another man. For your people are like those who strive with a priest.
5 Therefore you shall stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with you at night, and I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest to Me. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will forget your sons.
7 As they were increased, so they sinned against Me. I will change their glory into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of My people, and they set their appetites on their iniquity.
9 And it shall be: Like people, like priest. And I will visit their ways upon them and repay them for their deeds.
10 For they shall eat and not have enough. They shall commit fornication and not bring forth, because they have ceased to take heed to Jehovah.
11 Harlotry and wine and new wine snatch away the heart.
12 My people seek advice from their wooden idols, and their magic wand expounds to them. For the spirit of harlotry has led them astray, and they have committed adultery against their God.
13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinth, because their shade is good. On account of this, your daughters shall prostitute themselves, and your brides shall commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your brides when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go aside with harlots, and they sacrifice with temple prostitutes. Therefore the people who do not understand will be thrust down.
15 Israel, though you commit fornication, do not let Judah become guilty. And do not come to Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As Jehovah lives.
16 For Israel rebels like a stubborn heifer. Now Jehovah will feed them as a lamb in a large area.
17 Ephraim is joined to idols. Let him alone.
18 Their drink is rebellion. They are continually committing fornication. Her defenders dearly love disgrace.
19 The wind binds her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.