| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites! For the LORD has a covenant lawsuit against the people of Israel. For there is neither faithfulness nor loyalty in the land, nor do they acknowledge God. | 1"Hear this message from the LORD, people of Israel. Indeed, the LORD brings a charge against the people who live in the land— for there is no truth and no gracious love or knowledge of God in the land. |
| 2There is only cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery. They resort to violence and bloodshed. | 2Swearing, lying, murder, theft, and adultery are rampant, and blood mingles with blood. |
| 3Therefore the land will mourn, and all its inhabitants will perish. The wild animals, the birds of the sky, and even the fish in the sea will perish. | 3Therefore the land will mourn, and all who live there will languish, along with the wild animals of the field and the birds of the air. Even the fish in the sea will disappear. |
| 4Do not let anyone accuse or contend against anyone else: for my case is against you priests! | 4"Let no one fight or bring charges against another, for my dispute is with you, priest. |
| 5You stumble day and night, and the false prophets stumble with you; You have destroyed your own people! | 5So you will stumble during the day, the prophet also will stumble with you at night, and I will destroy your mother. |
| 6You have destroyed my people by failing to acknowledge me! Because you refuse to acknowledge me, I will reject you as my priests. Because you reject the law of your God, I will reject your descendants. | 6My people are destroyed because they lack knowledge of me. Because you rejected that knowledge, I will reject you as a priest for me. Since you forget the Law of your God, I will also forget your children. |
| 7The more the priests increased in numbers, the more they rebelled against me. They have turned their glorious calling into a shameful disgrace! | 7"The more they increased in number, the more they sinned against me, so I will change their glory into shame. |
| 8They feed on the sin offerings of my people; their appetites long for their iniquity! | 8They feed on the sin of my people; they purpose in their heart to transgress. |
| 9I will deal with the people and priests together: I will punish them both for their ways, and I will repay them for their deeds. | 9So it will be: like people, like priest. I will punish them for their lifestyles, rewarding them according to their behavior. |
| 10They will eat, but not be satisfied; they will engage in prostitution, but not increase in numbers; because they have abandoned the LORD by pursuing other gods. | 10They will eat, but will not be satisfied. They will engage in prostitution, but they won't increase, because they have stopped listening to the LORD. |
| 11Old and new wine take away the understanding of my people. | 11"Sexual immorality, wine, and fresh wine seduce the heart of my people. |
| 12They consult their wooden idols, and their diviner's staff answers with an oracle. The wind of prostitution blows them astray; they commit spiritual adultery against their God. | 12My people seek counsel from their piece of wood, and their diviner's rod speaks to them. For a spirit of prostitution causes them to go astray; in their immorality they desert their God. |
| 13They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and burn offerings on the hills; they sacrifice under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is so pleasant. As a result, your daughters have become cult prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery! | 13They offer sacrifices on the mountain tops, burning offerings on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinth trees, since their shade is very good. Therefore your daughters are prostitutes and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. |
| 14I will not punish your daughters when they commit prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men consort with harlots, they sacrifice with temple prostitutes. It is true: "A people that lacks understanding will come to ruin!" | 14However, I'm not going to punish your daughters when they commit prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because their men are themselves immoral— they offer sacrifices with prostitutes. These people who aren't discerning will stumble. |
| 15Although you, O Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty! Do not journey to Gilgal! Do not go up to Beth Aven! Do not swear, "As surely as the LORD lives!" | 15"Even though you prostitute yourself, Israel— let not Judah incur guilt— don't go to Gilgal, or visit Beth-aven, or swear an oath using the LORD's name. |
| 16Israel has rebelled like a stubborn heifer! Soon the LORD will put them out to pasture like a lamb in a broad field! | 16For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn mule! Nevertheless, will not the LORD feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture? |
| 17Ephraim has attached himself to idols; Do not go near him! | 17Ephraim has become entwined with idols; leave him alone! |
| 18They consume their alcohol, then engage in cult prostitution; they dearly love their shameful behavior. | 18While drinking to excess, they prostitute themselves. They're in love with dishonor. |
| 19A whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings; they will be brought to shame because of their idolatrous worship. | 19A wind storm will carry them away in its embrace, and their sacrifices will bring them shame." |
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