Yahweh’s Contention with Israel
aListen to the word of Yahweh, O sons of Israel,
For Yahweh has a bcontention against the inhabitants of the land,
Because there is cno truth or lovingkindness
Or dknowledge of God in the land.
2 There is aswearing of oaths, bdeception, cmurder, dstealing, and eadultery.
They break forth in violence so that fbloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land amourns,
And everyone who inhabits it languishes
Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky,
And also the fish of the sea disappear.
4 Yet let no man acontend, and let no man offer reproof;
Indeed, your people are like those who bcontend with the priest.
5 So you will astumble by day,
And the prophet also will stumble with you by night;
And I will destroy your bmother.
6 aMy people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have brejected knowledge,
I also will creject you from ministering as My priest.
Since you have dforgotten the elaw of your God,
I Myself also will forget your children.
7 The more they amultiplied, the more they sinned against Me;
I will bchange their glory into disgrace.
8 They aeat the sin of My people
And blift up their soul toward their iniquity.
9 And it will be like people, alike priest;
So I will bpunish them for their ways
And cause their deeds to return to them.
10 aThey will eat, but not be satisfied;
They will bplay the harlot, but not break forth in number,
Because they have cforsaken Yahweh to keep harlotry.
11 Harlotry, awine, and new wine take away a heart of wisdom.
12 My people aask their wooden idol, and their diviner’s wand declares to them;
For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray,
And they have played the harlot, departing from their God.
13 They offer sacrifices on the atops of the mountains
And bburn incense on the hills,
cUnder oak, poplar, and terebinth
Because their shade is good.
Therefore your daughters play the harlot,
And your brides commit adultery.
14 I 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 acult prostitutes;
So the people without understanding are ruined.
15 Though you, Israel, play the harlot,
Do not let Judah become guilty;
Also do not go to aGilgal
Nor go up to Beth‑aven
bAnd swear the oath:
“As Yahweh lives!”
16 Since Israel is astubborn
Like a stubborn heifer,
Can Yahweh now bfeed them
Like a lamb in a large field?
17 Ephraim is joined to aidols;
bLet him alone.
18 Their drink gone;
They play the harlot continually;
aTheir rulers dearly love disgrace.
19 aThe wind binds them up in its wings,
And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.