God Charges Against Israel
1 Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites,
for the LORD has a charge against the inhabitants of the land:
“Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness,
nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 There is cursing, lying,
murder, stealing, and committing adultery.
They break boundaries,
and bloodshed leads to more bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land mourns,
and everyone who dwells in it will waste away,
with 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.
4 Yet let no man bring a charge,
nor let any man accuse,
for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.
5 You will stumble by day,
and the prophet stumbles with you by night,
and I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I will also reject you as my priests.
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I will also forget your children.
7 The more the priests multiplied,
the more they sinned against me.
They changed their glory into disgrace.
8 They feed on the sins of my people,
and set their heart on iniquity.
9 It will be like people, like priest.
I will punish them for their ways,
and will repay them for their deeds.
10 They will eat, and not have enough.
They will be promiscuous, but will not multiply,
because they have abandoned fidelity to the LORD.
11 Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.
12 My 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.
13 They 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.
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.
15 Though you, Israel, play the prostitute,
yet do not let Judah offend
and do not come to Gilgal,
nor go up to Beth Aven,
nor swear, ‘As the LORD lives.’
16 For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly,
like a stubborn heifer.
Then how will the LORD shepherd them
like a lamb in a meadow?
17 Ephraim is joined to idols.
Leave him alone!
18 Their drink has become sour.
They play the prostitute continually.
Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.
19 The wind has wrapped her up in its wings,
and their sacrifices shall bring them shame.”