4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.

4:2 There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

4:3 Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.

4:4 "But let no man bring a charge, let no man accuse another, for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.

4:5 You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother--

4:6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.

4:7 The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful.

4:8 They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness.

4:9 And it will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.

4:10 "They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not increase, because they have deserted the LORD to give themselves

4:11 to prostitution, to old wine and new, which take away the understanding

4:12 of my people. They consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God.

4:13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, where the shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.

4:14 "I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes--a people without understanding will come to ruin!

4:15 "Though you commit adultery, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty. "Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven. And do not swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives!'

4:16 The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the LORD pasture them like lambs in a meadow?

4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!

4:18 Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution; their rulers dearly love shameful ways.

4:19 A whirlwind will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.