4 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. 2 By
swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery,
they break out, and blood toucheth blood. 3 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. 4 Yet
let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that
strive with the priest. 5 Therefore
shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee
in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. 6 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. 7 As
they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change
their glory into shame. 8 They
eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. 9 And
there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their
ways, and reward them their doings.
10 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. 11 Whoredom
and wine and new wine take away the heart. 12 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. 13 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. 14 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. 15 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. 16 For
Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them
as a lamb in a large place. 17 Ephraim
is joined to idols: let him alone. 18 Their
drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with
shame do love, Give ye. 19 The
wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of
their sacrifices.