1 Hear the word of the LORD , you children of Israel : for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land , because [there is] no truth , nor mercy , nor knowledge of God in the land  2 By swearing , and lying , and killing , and stealing , and committing adultery , they break out , and blood touches blood  3 Therefore will the land mourn , and every one that dwells in it will languish , with the beasts of the field , and with the fowls of heaven ; yes, the fishes of the sea also will be taken away  4 Yet let no man strive , nor reprove another : for your people [are] as those strive with the priest  5 Therefore will you fall in the day , and the prophet also will fall with you in the night , and I will destroy your mother  6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge : because you have rejected knowledge , I will also reject you, that you will be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God , I will also forget your children  7 As they were increased , so they sinned against me: [therefore] will I change their glory into shame  8 They eat up the sin of my people , and they set their heart on their iniquity  9 And there will be, like people , like priest : and I will punish them for their ways , and reward them their doings  10 For they will eat , and not have enough : they will commit whoredom , and will not increase : because they have left off to take care to the LORD  11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart  12 My people ask counsel at their chains , and their staff declares to them: for the spirit of whoredoms has caused [them] to go astray , and they have gone a whoring from under their God  13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains , and burn incense on the hills , under oaks and poplars and elms , because the shadow of it [is] good : therefore your daughters will commit whoredom , and your spouses will commit adultery  14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom , nor your spouses when they commit adultery : for themselves are separated with whores , and they sacrifice with harlots : therefore the people [that] does not understand will fall  15 though you, Israel , play the prostitute , [yet] let not Judah offend ; and come not you to Gilgal , neither go you up to Bethaven , nor swear , The LORD lives  16 For Israel slides back as a backsliding heifer : now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place  17 Ephraim [is] joined to idols : let him alone  18 Their drink is sour : they have committed whoredom continually : her rulers [with] shame do love , Give  19 The wind has bound her up in her wings , and they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices