Online Bible

God’s Controversy with Israel

^aListen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel,For the LORD has a ^bcase against the inhabitants of the land,Because there is ^cno ¹faithfulness or ²kindnessOr ^dknowledge of God in the land.2 There is ^aswearing, ^bdeception, ^cmurder, ^dstealing and ^eadultery.They employ violence, so that ^fbloodshed ¹follows bloodshed.3 Therefore the land ^amourns,And everyone who lives in it languishesAlong with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky,And also the fish of the sea ¹disappear.

4 Yet let no one ¹^afind fault, and let none offer reproof;For 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 being My priest.Since you have ^dforgotten the ^elaw of your God,I also will forget your children.

7 The more they ^amultiplied, the more they sinned against Me;I will ^bchange their glory into shame.8 They ^afeed on the ¹sin of My peopleAnd ^bdirect their desire toward their iniquity.9 And it will be, like people, ^alike priest;So I will ^bpunish them for their waysAnd repay them for their deeds.10 ^aThey will eat, but not have enough;They will ^bplay the harlot, but not increase,Because they have ¹^cstopped giving heed to the LORD.

11 Harlotry, ^awine and new wine take away the ¹understanding.12 My people ^aconsult 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 ¹from their God.13 They offer sacrifices on the ^atops of the mountainsAnd ¹^bburn incense on the hills,^cUnder oak, poplar and terebinth,Because their shade is pleasant.Therefore your daughters play the harlotAnd your ²brides commit adultery.14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlotOr your ¹brides when they commit adultery,For the men themselves go apart with harlotsAnd offer sacrifices with ^atemple prostitutes;So the people without understanding are ²ruined.

15 Though you, Israel, play the harlot,Do not let Judah become guilty;Also do not go to ^aGilgal,Or go up to Beth-aven^bAnd take the oath:“As the LORD lives!”16 Since Israel is ^astubbornLike a stubborn heifer,¹Can the LORD now ^bpasture themLike a lamb in a large field?17 Ephraim is joined to ^aidols;^bLet him alone.18 Their liquor gone,They play the harlot continually;^aTheir ¹rulers dearly love shame.19 ^aThe wind wraps them in its wings,And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

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 ¹lovingkindnessOr ^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 ¹follows bloodshed.3 Therefore the land ^amourns,And everyone who inhabits it languishesAlong with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky,And also the fish of the sea ¹disappear.

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 ¹sin of My peopleAnd ^blift up ²their soul toward their iniquity.9 And it will be like people, ^alike priest;So I will ^bpunish them for their waysAnd 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 ¹^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 ¹from their God.13 They offer sacrifices on the ^atops of the mountainsAnd ¹^bburn incense on the hills,^cUnder oak, poplar, and terebinthBecause their shade is good.Therefore your daughters play the harlot,And your ²brides commit adultery.14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlotOr your ¹brides when they commit adultery,For the men themselves go apart with harlotsAnd offer sacrifices with ^acult prostitutes;So the people without understanding are ²ruined.

15 Though you, Israel, play the harlot,Do not let Judah become guilty;Also do not go to ^aGilgalNor go up to Beth-aven^bAnd swear the oath:“As Yahweh lives!”16 Since Israel is ^astubbornLike a stubborn heifer,¹Can Yahweh now ^bfeed themLike 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 ¹rulers dearly love disgrace.19 ^aThe wind binds them up in its wings,And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.