| Chapter 4 |
1 |
Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel; for Yahweh has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land. --
|
2 |
There is nothing but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood touches blood. --
|
3 |
Therefore shall the land mourn, and everyone who dwells therein shall languish, with the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also shall be taken away. --
|
4 |
Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for your people are as those who strive with the priest. --
|
5 |
You shall stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother. --
|
6 |
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. --
|
7 |
As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame. --
|
8 |
They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity. --
|
9 |
It shall be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will requite them their doings. --
|
10 |
They shall eat, and not have enough; they shall play the prostitute, and shall not increase; because they have left off taking heed to Yahweh. --
|
11 |
Prostitution and wine and new wine take away the understanding. --
|
12 |
My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declares to them; for the spirit of prostitution has caused them to err, and they have played the prostitute, [departing] from under their God. --
|
13 |
They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow of it is good: therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery. --
|
14 |
I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for [the men] themselves go apart with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes; and the people that does not understand shall be overthrown. --
|
15 |
Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don't let Judah offend; and don't you come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As Yahweh lives. --
|
16 |
For Israel has behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will Yahweh feed them as a lamb in a large place. --
|
17 |
Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone. --
|
18 |
Their drink is become sour; they play the prostitute continually; her rulers dearly love shame. --
|
19 |
The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be put to shame because of their sacrifices. --
|