4: 2 There is nought but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
4: 3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens; yes, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
4: 4 Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
4: 5 And thou shalt stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; and I will destroy thy mother.
4: 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, 30I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.
30Hbmg reads, I have rejected thee,
4: 7 As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me: 31They have changed my glory into shame.
31Sopherim changed to I will change their glory
4: 8 They feed on the sin of my people, and 32set their heart on their iniquity.
32Hb. lift up their soul to iniquity.
4: 9 And it shall be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will requite them their doings.
4: 10 And they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall play the harlot, and shall not increase; because they have left off taking heed to Jehovah.
4: 11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the 33understanding.
33Hb. heart.
4: 12 My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of whoredom hath caused them to err, and they have played the harlot, departing from under their God.
4: 13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your 34brides commit adultery.
34Or, daughters-in-law And in vs. 14.
4: 14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrifice with the temple prostitutes; and the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown.
4: 15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah 35offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As Jehovah liveth.
35Or, become guilty;
4: 16 For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place.
4: 17 Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.
4: 18 36Their drink is become sour; they play the harlot continually; 37her 38rulers dearly love shame.
36Or, Their carouse is over;
37Or, they are given up to love; her rulers are a shame.
38Hb. shields
4: 19 The wind hath wrapped her up in 39its wings; and 40they shall be put to shame because of their sacrifices.
39Or, her skirts;
40Sept. (Aram.) read, their altars shall be put to shame.
