1 God’s Controversy with Israel Hear the word of the L, you children of Israel,For the Lhas a [legal] case with the inhabitants of the land,Because there is no faithfulness [no steadfast love, no dependability] or loyaltyorkindnessOr knowledge of God [from personal experience with Him] in the land.
2 There is [false] swearingof oaths, deception (broken faith), murder, stealing, and adultery;They employ violence, so that one [act of] bloodshed follows closely on another.
3 Therefore the land [continually] mourns,And everyone who lives in it languishes [in tragic suffering]Together with the animals of the open country and the birds of the heavens;Even the fish of the sea disappear.
4 Yet let no one find fault, nor let any rebuke [others];For your people are like those who contend with the priest.
5 So you will stumble in the daytime,And the [false] prophet will also stumble with you in the night;And I will destroy your mother (Israel).
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will].Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge,I will also reject you from being My priest.Since you have forgotten the law of your God,I will also forget your children.
7 The more they multiplied [in numbers and increased in power], the more they sinned against Me;I will change their glory into shame.
8 They (the priests)As the people increased their rebellious behavior, they offered more sacrifices to atone for their sins, implying a greater portion of food for the priests. See Lev 7:7, 8.feed on the sin offering of My peopleAnd set their heart on their wickedness.
9 And it shall be: like people, like priest [both are wicked and both will be judged];So I will punish them for their waysAnd repay them for their deeds.
10 They will eat, but not have enough;They will play the prostitute, but not increase [their descendants],Because they have stopped giving heed to the L.
11 Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away the mindandthe [spiritual] understanding.
12 My people consult their [lifeless] wooden idol, and their [diviner’s] wand gives them oracles.For a spirit of prostitution has led them astray [morally and spiritually],And they have played the prostitute,withdrawing themselvesfrom their God.
13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountainsAnd burn incense on the hills,Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,Because the shade is pleasant there.Therefore your daughters play the prostituteAnd your brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostituteOr your brides when they commit adultery,For the men themselves slip away with prostitutes,And they offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes [who give their bodies in honor of the idol].So the people without understanding [stumble and fall and] come to ruin.
15 Though you, Israel, play the prostitute [by worshiping idols],Do not let Judah become guilty [of the same thing];And do not go to Gilgal [where idols are worshiped],Or go up toA contemptuous reference to Bethel (House of God, the place of Jacob’s dream, Gen 28:10-19), noted for idolatry.Beth-aven (House of Wickedness),Nor swear [oaths in idolatrous worship, saying],“As the Llives!”
16 For Israel is stubborn,Like a stubborn heifer.Can the Lnow pasture themLike a lamb in a large field?
17 Ephraim is joined to idols,So let him alone [to suffer the consequences].
18 When their liquor is gone [and their drinking parties are over],They habitually go to play the prostitute;Ephraim’s rulers continue to dearly love shame [more than her glory which is the L, Israel’s God].
19 The wind [of God’s relentless wrath] has wrapped up Israel in its wings,And [in captivity] they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices [to calves, to sun, to moon, to stars, and to pagan gods].