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 By swearing, and lying, 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 with
the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be
taken away.
4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are
as they that strive with the priest.
5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also
shall fall 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 will also forget thy children.
7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore
will I change their glory into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on
their iniquity.
9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will
punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
10 For 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 heart.
12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff
declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms 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 elms,
because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters
shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom,
nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are
separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots:
therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah
offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to
Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD
will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually:
her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be
ashamed because of their sacrifices.
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