1Hear the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, for the LORD has a dispute with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth and no kindness and no knowledge of God in the land.2Swearing and deceiving and murdering and stealing and committing adultery; they break through, and blood touches blood.3Therefore the land mourns, and everyone who dwells in it languishes, together with the animals of the field and the bird of the heavens; and also the fish of the sea are gathered.4Yet let no man contend, and let no man rebuke a man; for your people are like those who contend with the priest.5You will stumble by day, and the prophet also will stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother.6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from serving as priest to me; you have forgotten the instruction of your God, so I also will forget your children.7As they multiplied, so they sinned against me; they changed their glory into dishonor.8They eat the sin of my people, and they lift up their soul to their iniquity.9It will be like the people, like the priest; therefore I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.10They will eat and not be satisfied; they will fornicate and not break through, because they have forsaken the LORD to devote themselves.11Fornication and wine and new wine take the heart.12My people inquire of their wood, and their rod declares to them, for a spirit of fornication has led them astray, and they have fornicated from under their God.13Upon the heads of the mountains they sacrifice, and upon the hills they burn offerings, under oak and poplar and oak, because its shadow is pleasant; therefore your daughters fornicate and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.14I will not reckon upon your daughters when they fornicate, nor upon your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because they separate themselves with the fornicating women and sacrifice with the cult prostitutes, and a people without understanding comes to ruin.15If you fornicate, O Israel, let not Judah be guilty; and do not come to the Gilgal, and do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear, 'As the LORD lives.'16For like a rebellious heifer, Israel has rebelled; now the LORD will pasture them like a lamb in the broad place.17Ephraim is united to idols; leave him alone.18Their liquor has turned aside; they have continually fornicated; they have loved dishonor; bring shame upon their shields.19A spirit has constrained her in its wings, and they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.