God’s Case against His People 1 ULT Hear the word of Yahweh, sons of Israel, for Yahweh has a dispute with the dwellers of the land, for there is no truth and there is no covenant faithfulness, and there is no 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 ULT Swearing and deceiving and murdering and stealing and committing adultery! They have broken out, and bloodshed touches bloodshed! BSB BSB: Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.
3 ULT Therefore the land mourns, and every dweller in it languishes, along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are gathered 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 ULT Surely no man may dispute, and no man may reprove, but your people{ are} like those disputing with a 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 ULT And you will stumble by day, and also the prophet will stumble with you by 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 ULT My people are destroyed from lack of the knowledge. Because you, you have rejected the knowledge, I will reject you from being a priest to me. And you have forgotten the law of your God; I, I also will forget your sons. 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 ULT As they multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will exchange their glory for dishonor. BSB BSB: The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.
8 ULT They eat the sin of my people, and to their iniquity they lift up his soul. BSB BSB: They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity.
9 ULT And it will be like people, like priest. And I will visit upon him his ways, and I will return his deeds to him. 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 ULT And they will eat but not be full. They prostituted{ themselves}, but they will not increase, for they have forsaken to heed Yahweh. 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 ULT Prostitution and wine and new wine take heart. BSB BSB: to promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which take away understanding.
12 ULT My people inquires of his wood, and his staff declares to him, for a spirit of prostitutions has led astray, and they have prostituted{ themselves} 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 ULT On the tops of the mountains they sacrifice, and on the hills they burn{ incense}, under oak and poplar and terebinth, for its shade{ is} good. Therefore your daughters prostitute{ themselves}, and your daughters- in- law 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 ULT I will not visit upon your daughters when they prostitute{ themselves}, and upon your daughters- in- law when they commit adultery, for the men, they go aside with the prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the temple prostitutes, and a people{ who} does not understand will be thrown down. 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 ULT If you are prostituting{ yourself}, Israel, let not Judah become guilty. And do not go{ to} Gilgal, and do not go up{ to} Beth Aven, and do not swear,“{ By} the life of Yahweh.” 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 ULT For Israel is stubborn like a stubborn cow. Now will Yahweh pasture them like a lamb in a wide 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 ULT Ephraim{ is} joined to idols. Leave him alone. BSB BSB: Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
18 ULT Their drink has ceased. Prostituting, they have prostituted{ themselves}. Her shields have loved, loved dishonor. BSB BSB: When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace.
19 ULT A wind has wrapped her in its wings, and they will have shame from their sacrifices. BSB BSB: The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.