¶ Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for² the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth³, nor mercy, nor knowledge⁴ of God in the land.

By swearing⁵, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood⁶ toucheth blood.

Therefore shall the land⁷ mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts⁸ of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

Yet let⁹ no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as¹⁰ they that strive with the priest.

Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet¹¹ also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy¹² thy mother.

¶ My people¹³ are destroyed¹⁴ for lack of knowledge: because¹⁵ thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject¹⁶ thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing¹⁷ thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

As they were¹⁸ increased, so they sinned against me: therefore¹⁹ will I change their glory into shame.

They eat²⁰ up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity²¹.

And there shall be, like people²², like priest: and I will punish²³ them for their ways, and reward them²⁴ their doings.

¶ For they shall eat²⁵, and not have enough: they shall commit²⁶ whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left²⁷ off to take heed to the LORD.

Whoredom and wine and new wine take²⁸ away the heart.

¶ My people ask²⁹ counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for³⁰ the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone³¹ a whoring from under their God.

They sacrifice³² upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore³³ your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

I will not³⁴ punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for³⁵ themselves are separated with whores, and they³⁶ sacrifice with harlots: therefore³⁷ the people that doth not understand shall fall³⁸.

Though thou, Israel, play³⁹ the harlot, yet⁴⁰ let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal⁴¹, neither go ye up to Bethaven⁴², nor⁴³ swear, The LORD liveth.

For Israel slideth⁴⁴ back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb⁴⁵ in a large place.

Ephraim⁴⁶ is joined to idols: let⁴⁷ him alone.

Their drink⁴⁸ is sour⁴⁹: they have committed whoredom continually: her⁵⁰ rulers⁵¹ with shame do love, Give ye.

The wind⁵² hath bound her up in her wings, and⁵³ they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.