God’s Case against Israel
1Hear the word of the LORD, b people of Israel,
for the LORD has a case c
against the inhabitants of the land:
There is no truth, d no faithful love, e
and no knowledge of God f in the land!
2 Cursing, g lying, h murder, i stealing, j
and adultery k are rampant;
one act of bloodshed follows another. l
3 For this reason the land mourns, m
and everyone who lives in it languishes,
along with the wild animals n and the birds of the sky;
even the fish of the sea disappear. o
4 But let no one dispute; p let no one argue,
for my case is against you priests. O,P,q
5 You will stumble by day; r
the prophet will also stumble with you by night.
And I will destroy your mother. s
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. t
Because you have rejected knowledge, u
I will reject you v from serving as my priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God, w
I will also forget your sons.
7 The more they multiplied, x
the more they sinned against me.
I Q will change their R honor into disgrace. y
8 They feed on the sin S of my people; z
they have an appetite for their iniquity. a
9 The same judgment will happen
to both people and priests. b
I will punish them for their ways c
and repay them for their deeds.
10 They will eat but not be satisfied; d
they will be promiscuous e but not multiply.
For they have abandoned their devotion to the LORD. f
11 Promiscuity, g wine, and new wine
take away one’s understanding. h
12 My people consult their wooden idols, i
and their divining rods inform them.
For a spirit of promiscuity leads them astray; j
they act promiscuously k
in disobedience to T their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops, l
and they burn offerings on the hills, m
and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, n
because their shade is pleasant.
And so your daughters act promiscuously
and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters
when they act promiscuously
or your daughters-in-law
when they commit adultery,
for the men themselves go off with prostitutes o
and make sacrifices with cult prostitutes. p
People without discernment are doomed. q
Warnings for Israel and Judah
15 Israel, if you act promiscuously,
don’t let Judah become guilty!
Do not go to Gilgal r
or make a pilgrimage to Beth-aven, U,s
and do not swear an oath: As the LORD lives! t
16 For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow. u
Can the LORD now shepherd them
like a lamb in an open meadow? v
17 Ephraim is attached to idols; w
leave him alone! x
18 When their drinking is over,
they turn to promiscuity.
Israel’s leaders V fervently love disgrace. W
19 A wind with its wings will carry them off, X,y
and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices.