1Hear the word of Jehovah , ye children of Israel ; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth , nor goodness , nor knowledge of God in the land. 2There is nought but swearing and breaking faith, and killing , and stealing , and committing adultery ; they break out , and blood toucheth blood . 3Therefore shall the land mourn , and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens ; yea , the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away .
Consequences of Sin
4Yet let no man strive , neither let any man reprove ; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest . 5And thou shalt stumble in the day , and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night ; and I will destroy thy mother. 6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge : because thou hast rejected knowledge , I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me : seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children . 7As they were multiplied , so they sinned against me : I will change their glory into shame . 8They feed on the sin of my people , and set their heart on their iniquity . 9And it shall be , like people , like priest ; and I will punish them for their ways , and will requite them their doings . 10And they shall eat, and not have enough ; they shall play the harlot , and shall not increase ; because they have left off taking heed to Jehovah .
The Priests' Failure
11Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the understanding . 12My people ask counsel at their stock , and their staff declareth unto them ; for the spirit of whoredom hath caused them to err , and they have played the harlot , departing from under their God. 13They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains , and burn incense upon the hills , under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good : therefore your daughters play the harlot , and your brides commit adultery . 14I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot , nor your brides when they commit adultery ; for the men themselves go apart with harlots , and they sacrifice with the prostitutes ; and the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown.
Idolatry and Its Impact
15Though thou, Israel , play the harlot , yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal , neither go ye up to Beth-aven , nor swear , As Jehovah liveth . 16For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly , like a stubborn heifer : now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place . 17Ephraim is joined to idols ; let him alone . 18Their drink is become sour ; they play the harlot continually ; her rulers dearly love shame . 19The wind hath wrapped her up in its wings ; and they shall be put to shame because of their sacrifices .