1 Listen to the word of the LORD, children of Israel, for the LORD has a dispute with those who live in the land, because there is no faithfulness, there is no steadfast love, and there is no knowledge of God in the land.
2 Cursing and lying, killing, stealing and adultery have broken out, and blood touches blood.
3 That is why the land dries up and everyone living in it withers, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens; even the fish of the sea are taken away.
4 Yet let no one accuse, and let no one rebuke; for your people are like those who quarrel with a priest.
5 By day you will stumble, and by night the prophet will stumble along with you; and I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Since you have spurned knowledge, I will spurn you as my priest; since you have forgotten the law of your God, I in turn will forget your children.
7 As they grew in number, so they sinned against me; I will exchange their glory for shame.
8 The sin of my people is their food, and they set their appetite on their iniquity.
9 So it will be: as with the people, so with the priest; I will visit their ways on them and pay them back for their deeds.
10 They will eat, but not be filled; they will play the harlot, but not multiply, because they have left off heeding the LORD.
11 Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the heart.
12 My people ask counsel of their piece of wood, and their rod declares to them; for a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, and they have gone whoring away from under their God.
13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn incense on the hills, beneath oak and poplar and terebinth, since their shade is good. So your daughters play the harlot, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters for playing the harlot, nor your daughters-in-law for committing adultery, because the men themselves slip away with harlots and offer sacrifices with cult prostitutes; and a people that does not understand will be brought to ruin.
15 If you, Israel, play the harlot, do not let Judah become guilty. Do not go to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not take the oath "As the LORD lives!"
16 For Israel has been stubborn, like a stubborn heifer; will the LORD now graze them like a lamb in an open meadow?
17 Ephraim is tied to idols; let him be.
18 Their drinking is over; they keep on playing the harlot; her rulers love, they love disgrace.
19 A wind has bound her up in its wings, and they will be put to shame because of their sacrifices.