1 Listen to the word of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge}, children of Israel: for the LORD has a case {riv: legal case} with the inhabitants of the land, because in the land there is no truth, no steadfast love, and no knowledge of God.
2 Swearing{aloh: profane vows} and lying{kachesh: deceitful speech}, and murder, and theft, and adultery—they break loose, and bloodshed runs into bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land {haaretz: whole region} will go into mourning, and every inhabitant in it will wither {umlal: become feeble}, together with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens; even the fish of the sea will be gathered up.
4 Yet, let no one bring a complaint {yarev: legal dispute}, and let no one issue a rebuke; for your people are like those who quarrel with a priest {kohen: sacred judge}.
5 In the day you shall stumble, and in the night the prophet shall stumble with you, and I {YHWH, Executing Sentence} will destroy your mother {immekha: your nation}.
6 My people are brought to ruin through lack of knowledge; since you have rejected the knowledge, I will reject you, so that you will not serve as priest {kohen: sanctuary mediator} to Me. You have forgotten the law of your God {Elohim, Covenant Judge}; I also will forget your children.
7 The larger they became{kerubam: growing numbers}, the more they sinned against Me{YHWH, Wronged Ruler}; their glory I will exchange for shame.
8 They consume the sin {chattat: guilt offering} of My {YHWH, Covenant Witness} people, and they direct their desire toward their iniquity.
9 And it will be: like the people, like the priest; I {YHWH, Impartial Judge} will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds {maalalav: practiced acts}.
10 They will eat, yet they will not be satisfied {yisbau: be full}; they have committed harlotry and will not increase, because they have forsaken the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} and stopped heeding.
11 Harlotry {zenut: sexual unfaithfulness}, and wine, and new wine take away the heart {lev: inner resolve}.
12 My people seek a verdict from their wood, and their staff declares it to them; because a spirit {ruach: driving impulse} of whoredoms has led them astray, and they have gone whoring from under their God {Elohim, Covenant Protector}.
13 On the tops of the mountains they sacrifice, and on the hills they burn incense beneath oak {allon: pagan worship tree}, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasing. Therefore your daughters shall commit prostitution {tiznenah: cult prostitution}, and your daughters-in-law shall commit adultery.
14 I {YHWH, Patient Judge} will not punish your daughters when they commit prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men go off with the harlots and sacrifice with the cult prostitutes {qedeshot: shrine prostitutes}; and a people without understanding will stumble.
15 Though you commit harlotry, Israel, do not let Judah become guilty; do not enter Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven {aven: wickedness}, and do not swear, “As the LORD {YHWH, Oath Witness} lives.”
16 For Israel has been stubborn like a rebellious heifer; now the LORD {YHWH, Disciplining Judge} will let them graze like a lamb in a wide-open place {merchav: unconfined field}.
17 Ephraim is fastened to idols {atzabim: shameful images}; leave {hanach-lo: cease pursuit} him be.
18 Their drink {savaam: debased revelry} is gone; they have committed prostitution; her shields love, “Give!” {hevu: greedy demand}.
19 The wind has wrapped her up {tsarar: tight bind} in its wings, and they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices {mizivchotam: ritual sacrifices}.