| New American Standard Bible 1995 | NET Bible |
| 1Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land. | 1Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites! For the LORD has a covenant lawsuit against the people of Israel. For there is neither faithfulness nor loyalty in the land, nor do they acknowledge God. |
| 2There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. | 2There is only cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery. They resort to violence and bloodshed. |
| 3Therefore the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, And also the fish of the sea disappear. | 3Therefore the land will mourn, and all its inhabitants will perish. The wild animals, the birds of the sky, and even the fish in the sea will perish. |
| 4Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. | 4Do not let anyone accuse or contend against anyone else: for my case is against you priests! |
| 5So you will stumble by day, And the prophet also will stumble with you by night; And I will destroy your mother. | 5You stumble day and night, and the false prophets stumble with you; You have destroyed your own people! |
| 6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because 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. | 6You have destroyed my people by failing to acknowledge me! Because you refuse to acknowledge me, I will reject you as my priests. Because you reject the law of your God, I will reject your descendants. |
| 7The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. | 7The more the priests increased in numbers, the more they rebelled against me. They have turned their glorious calling into a shameful disgrace! |
| 8They feed on the sin of My people And direct their desire toward their iniquity. | 8They feed on the sin offerings of my people; their appetites long for their iniquity! |
| 9And it will be, like people, like priest; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds. | 9I will deal with the people and priests together: I will punish them both for their ways, and I will repay them for their deeds. |
| 10They will eat, but not have enough; They will play the harlot, but not increase, Because they have stopped giving heed to the LORD. | 10They will eat, but not be satisfied; they will engage in prostitution, but not increase in numbers; because they have abandoned the LORD by pursuing other gods. |
| 11Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the understanding. | 11Old and new wine take away the understanding of my people. |
| 12My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them; For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, And they have played the harlot, departing from their God. | 12They consult their wooden idols, and their diviner's staff answers with an oracle. The wind of prostitution blows them astray; they commit spiritual adultery against their God. |
| 13They 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 harlot And your brides commit adultery. | 13They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and burn offerings on the hills; they sacrifice under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is so pleasant. As a result, your daughters have become cult prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery! |
| 14I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot Or your brides when they commit adultery, For the men themselves go apart with harlots And offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes; So the people without understanding are ruined. | 14I will not punish your daughters when they commit prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men consort with harlots, they sacrifice with temple prostitutes. It is true: "A people that lacks understanding will come to ruin!" |
| 15Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Do not let Judah become guilty; Also do not go to Gilgal, Or go up to Beth-aven And take the oath: "As the LORD lives!" | 15Although you, O Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty! Do not journey to Gilgal! Do not go up to Beth Aven! Do not swear, "As surely as the LORD lives!" |
| 16Since Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn heifer, Can the LORD now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field? | 16Israel has rebelled like a stubborn heifer! Soon the LORD will put them out to pasture like a lamb in a broad field! |
| 17Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone. | 17Ephraim has attached himself to idols; Do not go near him! |
| 18Their liquor gone, They play the harlot continually; Their rulers dearly love shame. | 18They consume their alcohol, then engage in cult prostitution; they dearly love their shameful behavior. |
| 19The wind wraps them in its wings, And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices. | 19A whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings; they will be brought to shame because of their idolatrous worship. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved. |
|
