| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; | 1Hear the word of the LORD, people of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land! |
| 2there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. | 2Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. |
| 3Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away. | 3For this reason the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes, along with the wild animals and the birds of the sky; even the fish of the sea disappear. |
| 4Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest. | 4But let no one dispute; let no one argue, for My case is against you priests. |
| 5You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother. | 5You will stumble by day; the prophet will also stumble with you by night. And I will destroy your mother. |
| 6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. | 6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons. |
| 7The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame. | 7The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me. I will change their honor into disgrace. |
| 8They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity. | 8They feed on the sin of My people; they have an appetite for their transgressions. |
| 9And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. | 9The same judgment will happen to both people and priests. I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. |
| 10They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply, because they have forsaken the LORD to cherish | 10They will eat but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have abandoned their devotion to the LORD. |
| 11whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding. | 11Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away one's understanding. |
| 12My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore. | 12My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of promiscuity leads them astray; they act promiscuously in disobedience to their God. |
| 13They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your brides commit adultery. | 13They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and they burn offerings on the hills, and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters act promiscuously and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. |
| 14I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and a people without understanding shall come to ruin. | 14I will not punish your daughters when they act promiscuously or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, for the men themselves go off with prostitutes and make sacrifices with cult prostitutes. People without discernment are doomed. |
| 15Though you play the whore, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty. Enter not into Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and swear not, “As the LORD lives.” | 15Israel, if you act promiscuously, don't let Judah become guilty! Do not go to Gilgal or make a pilgrimage to Beth-aven, and do not swear an oath: As the LORD lives! |
| 16Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the LORD now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture? | 16For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow. Can the LORD now shepherd them like a lamb in an open meadow? |
| 17Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone. | 17Ephraim is attached to idols; leave him alone! |
| 18When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring; their rulers dearly love shame. | 18When their drinking is over, they turn to promiscuity. Israel's leaders fervently love disgrace. |
| 19A wind has wrapped them in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. | 19A wind with its wings will carry them off, and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices. |
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