[1] Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
[2] There is nought but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
[3] Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field and the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
[4] Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
[5] And thou shalt stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; and I will destroy thy mother.
[6] My 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.
[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] And it shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and will reward them their doings.
[10] And they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
[11] Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the understanding.
[12] My 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 gone a whoring from under their God.
[13] They 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 commit whoredom, and your brides commit adultery.
[14] I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for they themselves go apart with whores, and they sacrifice with the harlots: and the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown.
[15] Though 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 the LORD liveth.
[16] For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will the LORD feed them as a lamb in a large place.
[17] Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.
[18] Their drink is become sour: they commit whoredom continually; her rulers dearly love shame.
[19] The wind hath wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.