4Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land.H8085H1697H3068H1121H3478H3068H7379H3427H776H571H2617H1847H430H7762By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed.H422H3584H7523H1589H5003H6555H1818H5060H18183Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.H776H56H3427H535H2416H7704H5775H8064H1709H3220H6224"Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest.H376H7378H3198H376H5971H7378H35485Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother.H3782H3117H5030H3782H3915H1820H5176My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.H5971H1820H1847H3988H1847H3988H3547H7911H8451H430H7911H11217"The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.H7230H2398H4171H3519H70368They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity.H398H2403H5971H5375H5315H57719And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds.H5971H3548H6485H1870H7725H461110For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the LORD.H398H7646H2181H6555H5800H8104H3068
The Idolatry of Israel
11"Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart.H2184H3196H8492H3947H382012My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, And their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, And they have played the harlot against their God.H5971H7592H6086H4731H5046H7307H2183H8582H2181H43013They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, And burn incense on the hills, Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, Because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, And your brides commit adultery.H2076H7218H2022H6999H1389H437H3839H424H6738H2896H1323H2181H3618H500314"I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry, Nor your brides when they commit adultery; For the men themselves go apart with harlots, And offer sacrifices with a ritual harlot. Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled.H6485H1323H2181H3618H5003H6504H2181H2076H6948H5971H995H383215"Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Let not Judah offend. Do not come up to Gilgal, Nor go up to Beth Aven, Nor swear an oath, saying, 'As the LORD lives'—H3478H2181H3063H816H935H1537H5927H1007H7650H3068H241616"For Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn calf; Now the LORD will let them forage Like a lamb in open country.H3478H5637H5637H6510H3068H7462H3532H480017"Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone.H669H2266H6091H324018Their drink is rebellion, They commit harlotry continually. Her rulers dearly love dishonor.H5435H5493H2181H2181H4043H7036H157H305119The wind has wrapped her up in its wings, And they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.H7307H6887H3671H954H2077