Contemporary English Version Israel Is Unfaithful1Israel, listen as the Lord accuses everyone in the land! No one is faithful or loyal or truly cares about God. 2Cursing, dishonesty, murder, robbery, unfaithfulness— these happen all the time. Violence is everywhere. 3And so your land is a desert. Every living creature is dying— people and wild animals, birds and fish. The Lord Warns the Priests4Don't accuse just anyone! Not everyone is at fault. My case is against you, the priests.+ 5You and the prophets will stumble day and night; I'll silence your mothers. 6You priests have rejected me, and my people are destroyed by refusing to obey. Now I'll reject you and forget your children, because you have forgotten my Law. 7By adding more of you priests, you multiply the number of people who sin. Now I'll change your pride into shame. 8You encourage others to sin, so you can stuff yourselves on their sin offerings. 9That's why I will punish the people for their deeds, just as I will punish you priests. 10Their food won't satisfy, and having sex at pagan shrines won't produce children. My people have rebelled 11and have been unfaithful to me, their Lord. God Condemns Israel's IdolatryMy people, you are foolish because of too much pleasure and too much wine. 12You expect wooden idols and other objects of wood to give you advice. Lusting for sex at pagan shrines has made you unfaithful to me, your God. 13You offer sacrifices on mountaintops and hills, under oak trees, and wherever good shade is found. Your own daughters and daughters-in-law sell themselves for sex. 14But I won't punish them. You men are to blame, because you go to prostitutes and offer sacrifices with them at pagan shrines. Your own foolishness will lead to your ruin. 15Israel, you are unfaithful, but don't lead Judah to sin. Stop worshiping at Gilgal or at sinful Bethel.+ And quit making promises in my name—the name of the living Lord. 16You are nothing more than a stubborn cow— so stubborn that I, the Lord, cannot feed you like lambs in an open pasture. 17You people of Israel+ are charmed by+ idols. Leave those people alone! 18You get drunk, then sleep with prostitutes; you would rather be vulgar than lead a decent life.+ 19And so you will be swept away+ in a whirlwind for sacrificing to idols. Footnotes: Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (www.americanbible.org). Learn more at www.cev.bible. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at www.get.bible/cev Bible Hub |