Study Desk

Listen to the word of the LORD, you sons of Israel, Because the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, For there is no faithfulness, nor loyalty, Nor knowledge of God in the land.

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.

There is oath-taking, denial, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.

By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

Therefore the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes Along with the animals of the field and the birds of the sky, And even the fish of the sea disappear.

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.

Yet let no one find fault, and let no one rebuke; For your people are like those who contend with a priest.

Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

So you will stumble by day, And the prophet also will stumble with you by night; And I will destroy your mother.

Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will forget your children.

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.

The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.

As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

They feed on the sin of My people, And long for their wrongdoing.

They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

And it will be, like people, like priest; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.

And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.

They will eat, but not have enough; They will play the prostitute, but not increase, Because they gave up devoting themselves to the LORD.

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 .

Infidelity, wine, and new wine take away the understanding.

Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them; For a spirit of infidelity has led them astray, And they have been unfaithful, departing from their God.

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.

They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar, and terebinth, Because their shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, And your brides commit adultery.

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.

I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, Or your brides when they commit adultery, Because the men themselves slip away with the prostitutes And offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes; So the people without understanding are ruined.

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.

Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, Judah must not become guilty; Also you are not to go to Gilgal, Nor go up to Beth-aven And take the oath: "As the LORD lives!"

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.

Since Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn cow, Will the LORD now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field?

For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

Ephraim is allied with idols; Leave him alone.

Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Their liquor is gone, They prostitute themselves continually; Their rulers dearly love shame.

Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.

The wind wraps them in its wings, And they will be put to shame because of their sacrifices.

The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.