CHAPTER 4
Hear
the word
of the LORD,
O children
of Israel,
for
the LORD
has a case
against
the inhabitants
of the land:
There is no
truth,
no
loving devotion,
and no
knowledge
of God
in the land!
Cursing
and lying,
murder
and stealing,
and adultery
are rampant;
one act of bloodshed
follows another.
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.
But
let no
man
contend;
let no
man
offer reproof;
for your people are like those
who contend against
a priest.
You will stumble
by day,
and the prophet
will stumble
with you
by night.
So I will destroy
your mother—
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.
The more they multiplied,
the more they sinned
against Me;
they exchanged
their Glory
for a thing of disgrace.
And it shall be
like people,
like priest.
I will punish
both of them
for their ways
and repay
them
for their deeds.
They will eat
but not
be satisfied;
they will be promiscuous
but not
multiply.
For
they have stopped
obeying
the LORD.
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.
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.
I will not
punish
your daughters
when
they prostitute themselves
or
your daughters-in-law
when
they commit adultery,
because
the men themselves
go off
with
prostitutes
and make sacrifices
with
cult prostitutes.
So a people
without
understanding
will come to ruin.
Though
you
prostitute yourself,
O Israel,
may Judah
avoid
such guilt!
Do not
go
to Gilgal,
do not go up
to Beth-aven,
and do not
swear on oath,
‘As surely as the LORD
lives!’
For
Israel
is as obstinate
as a stubborn
heifer.
Can the LORD
now
shepherd them
like lambs
in an open meadow?