3. That is why the land is drying up. All those who live in it are getting weaker and weaker. The wild animals and the birds of the air are dying. So are the fish in the ocean.
4. "But you priests should not blame the people. You should not find fault with one another. After all, your people could also bring charges against you.
5. You trip and fall day and night. And the prophets fall down along with you. So I will destroy your nation. She is the one who gave birth to you.
6. My people are destroyed because they do not know me. "You priests have refused to obey me. So I will refuse to accept you as my priests. You have not paid any attention to my law. So I will not let your children be my priests.
7. The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. They have traded their glorious God for that shameful god Baal.
8. They live off the sins of my people. And they want them to keep on sinning.
9. So here is what I will do. I will punish people and priests alike. I will judge them because of their sinful lives. I will pay them back for the evil things they have done.
10. "My people will eat. But they will not have enough. They will have sex with prostitutes. But they will not have any children. That is because they have deserted me.