1 ¶ Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness, or compassion, or knowledge of God in the land.

2 There is swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, which leads to one bloody crime after another.

3 That is why the land dries up, and every one who lives in it languishes, together with the beasts of the field, and with the birds of heaven; yes, the fish in the sea disappear.

4 Yet let no one dispute, or argue about it: for your people are like those who argue with the priest.

5 Therefore you will stumble during the day, and the prophet will stumble with you in the night, and I will destroy your mother.

6 ¶ My people are destroyed because they lack knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, so that you will not be my priest: since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

7 The more priests there were, the more they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

8 The priests feed on the sin of my people, and are glad to have them sin.

9 The priests are like the people: and I will punish them for their ways, and pay them back for what they do.

10 For they will eat, but not have enough: they will commit sexual sin, but will not increase: because they have forsaken the LORD.

11 Immorality, wine and new wine take away good sense.

12 ¶ My people ask their wooden idols for help, and their stick tells them what to do: for the spirit of sexual sin has caused them to err, and they turn away from their God to commit adultery.

13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shade is good there: therefore your daughters will commit sexual sin, and your spouses will commit adultery.

14 I will not chastise your daughters when they commit prostitution, or your wives when they commit adultery: for the men themselves go to prostitutes, and offer sacrifice with prostitutes: therefore the people who do not understand will fall.

15 Though you, Israel, commit spiritual adultery, Judah must not become guilty; do not come to Gilgal, and do not go up to Bethaven, or swear saying, The LORD lives.

16 For Israel is stubborn like a stubborn heifer: how then can he expect to be fed like a lamb in a large pasture.

17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

18 When they have finished drinking, they turn to sexual sin: their rulers fervently love what is shameful.

19 The wind will carry them away in its wings, and they will be put to shame because of their sacrifices.