¹Hear the LORD ’s word , you children of Israel ,

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.

²There is cursing, lying , murder , stealing , and committing adultery ;

they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed .

³Therefore the land will mourn ,

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, neither let any man accuse ;

for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest .

⁵You will stumble in the day ,

and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night ;

and I will destroy your mother.

⁶My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge .

Because you have rejected knowledge , I will also reject you ,

that you may be no priest to me .

Because you have forgotten your God’s law ,

I will also forget your 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 .

⁹It will be like people , like priest ;

and I will punish them for their ways ,

and will repay them for their deeds .

¹⁰They will eat, and not have enough .

They will play the prostitute , and will not increase ;

because they have abandoned listening to the LORD .

¹¹Prostitution , wine , and new wine take away understanding .

¹²My 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.

¹³They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains ,

and burn incense on the hills , under oaks, poplars , and terebinths,

because its shade is good .

Therefore your daughters play the prostitute ,

and your brides commit adultery .

¹⁴I 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 don’t let Judah offend;

and don’t come to Gilgal ,

neither go up to Beth Aven,

nor swear , ‘As the LORD lives .’

¹⁶For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly , like a stubborn heifer .

Then how will the LORD feed them like a lamb in a meadow?

¹⁷Ephraim is joined to idols .

Leave him alone !

¹⁸Their drink has become sour .

They play the prostitute continually .

Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.

¹⁹The wind has wrapped her up in its wings ;

and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices .