1
Hear the Word of Yahuah, sons of Yisra’el, for Yahuah has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor covenant-faithfulness, nor knowledge of Elohim in the land.
2
Swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery— they break through all restraint, and blood touches blood.
3
Therefore the land mourns, and everyone dwelling in it languishes, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are gathered away.
4
Yet let no ish contend, and let no ish rebuke, for your people are like those who contend with a kohen.
5
And you shall stumble by day, and the prophet also shall stumble with you by night, and I will destroy your mother.
6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you rejected knowledge, I also reject you from serving as kohen to Me. And because you forgot the Torah of your Elohim, I also will forget your children.
7
As they increased, so they sinned against Me. Their glory I will change into shame.
8
They feed upon the sin of My people, and toward their crookedness they lift up their being.
9
And it shall be: like people, like kohen. And I will visit upon them their ways and return upon them their deeds.
10
And they shall eat but not be satisfied. They shall prostitute themselves but not increase, because they ceased to guard Yahuah.
11
Prostitution, and wine, and new wine take away the heart.
12
My people inquire of their wood, and their staff declares to them. For a ruach of prostitution has caused them to wander, and they have prostituted themselves from beneath their Elohim.
13
Upon the tops of the mountains they sacrifice, and upon the hills they burn incense, beneath oak, and poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters prostitute themselves, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14
I will not visit upon your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor upon your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, for the men themselves go apart with prostitutes and sacrifice with temple prostitutes. And a people without understanding shall be thrown down.
15
Though you, Yisra’el, prostitute yourself, let Yehudah not become guilty. Do not come to Gilgal, and do not go up to Beit-Aven, and do not swear: “As Yahuah lives.”
16
For Yisra’el is stubborn like a stubborn heifer. Now shall Yahuah pasture them like a lamb in a broad place?
17
Efrayim is joined to idols. Leave him.
18
Their drink has turned sour. Prostituting, they surely prostitute themselves. Her rulers love shame: “Give!”
19
A ruach has bound her in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.