1 The Charge Against Israel
1 Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, 1 because the Lord has a charge to bring 1 against you who live in the land: 1 "There is no faithfulness, no love, 1 no acknowledgment of God in the land.
2 There is only cursing,[a] lying and murder, 2 stealing and adultery; 2 they break all bounds, 2 and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Because of this the land dries up, 3 and all who live in it waste away; 3 the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky 3 and the fish in the sea are swept away.
4 "But let no one bring a charge, 4 let no one accuse another, 4 for your people are like those 4 who bring charges against a priest.
5 You stumble day and night, 5 and the prophets stumble with you. 5 So I will destroy your mother— 6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. 6 "Because you have rejected knowledge, 6 I also reject you as my priests; 6 because you have ignored the law of your God, 6 I also will ignore your children.
7 The more the priests increased, 7 the more they sinned against me; 7 they exchanged their glorious God[b] for something disgraceful.
8 They feed on the sins of my people 8 and relish their wickedness.
9 And it will be: Like people, like priests. 9 I will punish both of them for their ways 9 and repay them for their deeds.
10 "They will eat but not have enough; 10 they will engage in prostitution but not increase, 10 because they have deserted the Lord 10 to give themselves 10 11 10 to prostitution; 10 old wine and new wine 10 take away their understanding.
12 My people consult a wooden idol 12 and are answered by a stick of wood. 12 A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; 12 they are unfaithful to their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops 13 and burn offerings on the hills, 13 under oak, poplar and terebinth, 13 where the shade is pleasant. 13 Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution 13 and your daughters-in-law to adultery.
14 "I will not punish your daughters 14 when they turn to prostitution, 14 nor your daughters-in-law 14 when they commit adultery, 14 because the men themselves consort with harlots 14 and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes— 14 a people without understanding will come to ruin!
15 "Though you, Israel, commit adultery, 15 do not let Judah become guilty. 15 "Do not go to Gilgal; 15 do not go up to Beth Aven.[c] 15 And do not swear, 'As surely as the Lord lives!'
16 The Israelites are stubborn, 16 like a stubborn heifer. 16 How then can the Lord pasture them 16 like lambs in a meadow?
17 Ephraim is joined to idols; 17 leave him alone!
18 Even when their drinks are gone, 18 they continue their prostitution; 18 their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
19 A whirlwind will sweep them away, 19 and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
