1. Listen to the word of the Lord, O sons of Israel, For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land.
2. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3. Therefore the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, And also the fish of the sea disappear.
4. Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; For your people are like those who contend with the priest.
5. So you will stumble by day, And the prophet also will stumble with you by night; And I will destroy your mother.
6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
7. The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.
8. They feed on the sin of My people And direct their desire toward their iniquity.
9. And it will be, like people, like priest; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.
10. They will eat, but not have enough; They will play the harlot, but not increase, Because they have stopped giving heed to the Lord.
11. Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the understanding.
12. My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them; For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, And they have played the harlot, departing from their God.