Hear the word of the LORD , O children of Israel , for the LORD has a case against the people of the land : “... There is no tRuth - , no loving devotion , and no knowledge of God in the land !
Cursing and lying , murder and stealing , and adultery are rampant ; one act of bloodshed ... follows another.
Therefore ... the land mourns , and all who dwell will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air ; even the fish of the sea disappear.
But let no man contend ; let no man offer reproof ; for your people (are) like those who contend with a priest.
You will stumble by day , and the prophet ... will stumble with you by night ; so I will destroy your mother —
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge , I will also reject you as My priests Since you have forgotten the law of your God , I will also forget your children.
The more they multiplied , ... the more they sinned they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.
They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity.
And it shall be like people , like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay for their deeds.
They will eat but not be satisfied ; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For - they have stopped obeying the LORD.
Promiscuity , wine , and new wine take away understanding.
My people consult their wooden idols , and their divining rods inform For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God.
They sacrifice on the mountaintops ... and burn offerings on the hills , under oak , poplar , and terebinth , because their shade is pleasant. And so ... your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.
I will not punish ... your daughters when they prostitute themselves , nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.
Though you prostitute yourself , O Israel , may Judah avoid such guilt ! Do not journey to Gilgal , do not go up vvv to Beth-aven , ... and do not swear on oath , ‘ As surely as the LORD lives ! ’
For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow ?
Ephraim is joined to idols ; leave him alone
When their liquor is gone , they turn to prostitution ... ; their rulers dearly love disgrace.
The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings , and their sacrifices will bring them shame. (’’)