1 Hear the word of Jehovah, you children of Israel! For Jehovah has a legal case against the inhabitants of the land. There is no truth! There is no goodness. There is no knowledge of God in the land. 2 They do nothing but swear, deceive, kill, steal and commit adultery! There is violence and bloodshed in the land. 3 Therefore the land will mourn. All the inhabitants are weak. The beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea will also perish. 4 Let no man find fault and let no man reprove. After all your people are the ones who debate (argue) with a priest. 5 You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will stumble with you in the night. I will destroy your mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you! You will not be a priest to me since you have forgotten the Law of your God. Therefore, I will forget your children.
7 They grew in number and sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame. 8 They feed on the sins of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity. 9 It will be like people, like the priests. I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their actions. 10 They will eat, and not have enough! They will play the harlot, and will not increase! They do not listen to Jehovah. 11 Prostitution, wine and new wine take away the understanding.
12 My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declares to them; for the spirit of adultery caused them to go astray. They have played the harlot, departing from their God. 13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains! They burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars (storax) and the strong tree, because it has good shade. Your daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery. 14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery. The men go out with harlots, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes. The people that do not understand will fall (be overthrown).
15 Though you, Israel, play the harlot, do not let Judah become guilty! Do not go to Gilgal, neither go to Bethaven, nor swear, As Jehovah lives. 16 For Israel behaved stubbornly like a stubborn heifer. Will Jehovah now feed them as a lamb in a large place. 17 Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone. 18 Their drink (wheat beer) has become sour. They play the harlot continually. Her rulers dearly love shame. 19 The wind wrapped her up in its wings. They will be put to shame because of their sacrifices!