4
1 Hear
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.
2 There
is cursing, lying,
murder, stealing,
and committing
adultery;
they break boundaries,
and bloodshed causes
bloodshed.
3 Therefore
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.
5 You
will stumble in
the day,
and the prophet
will also stumble
with you in
the 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,
that you may
be no priest
to me.
Because you have
forgotten your God’s
law,
I will also
forget your
children.
7 As
they were multiplied,
so they sinned
against me.
I will change
their glory into
shame.
8 They feed
on the sin
of my people,
and set their
heart on their
iniquity.
9 It
will be like
people, like
priest;
and I will
punish them for
their ways,
and will repay
them for their
deeds.
10 They
will eat, and not
have enough.
They will play
the prostitute,
and will not
increase;
because they have
abandoned listening 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, 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 don’t let Judah offend;
and don’t come to
Gilgal,
neither 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 feed
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 they shall
be disappointed because of their
sacrifices.