God’s Case against His People 1 AKJV Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. BSB BSB: Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land!
2 AKJV By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood touches blood. BSB BSB: Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.
3 AKJV Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwells therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yes, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. BSB BSB: Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.
4 AKJV Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for your people are as they that strive with the priest. BSB BSB: But let no man contend; let no man offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend with a priest.
5 AKJV Therefore shall you fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with you in the night, and I will destroy your mother. BSB BSB: You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your mother—
6 AKJV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. BSB BSB: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
7 AKJV As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. BSB BSB: The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.
8 AKJV They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. BSB BSB: They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity.
9 AKJV And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. BSB BSB: And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
10 AKJV For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit prostitution, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD. BSB BSB: They will eat but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have abandoned the LORD to give themselves
11 AKJV Prostitution and wine and new wine take away the heart. BSB BSB: to promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which take away understanding.
12 AKJV My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declares to them: for the spirit of prostitutions has caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. BSB BSB: My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God.
13 AKJV They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit prostitution, and your spouses shall commit adultery. BSB BSB: They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.
14 AKJV I will not punish your daughters when they commit prostitution, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that does not understand shall fall. BSB BSB: I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.
15 AKJV Though you, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not you to Gilgal, neither go you up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD lives. BSB BSB: Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
16 AKJV For Israel slides back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. BSB BSB: For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?
17 AKJV Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. BSB BSB: Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
18 AKJV Their drink is sour: they have committed prostitution continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give you. BSB BSB: When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace.
19 AKJV The wind has bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. BSB BSB: The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.