| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. | 1Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! |
| 2By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. | 2Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. |
| 3Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away. | 3Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear. |
| 4“Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. | 4But let no man contend; let no man offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend with a priest. |
| 5Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother. | 5You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your mother— |
| 6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. | 6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. |
| 7“The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. | 7The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace. |
| 8They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity. | 8They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity. |
| 9And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds. | 9And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. |
| 10For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the LORD. | 10They will eat but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have stopped obeying the LORD. |
| 11“Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart. | 11Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away understanding. |
| 12My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, And their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, And they have played the harlot against their God. | 12My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God. |
| 13They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, And burn incense on the hills, Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, Because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, And your brides commit adultery. | 13They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. |
| 14“I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry, Nor your brides when they commit adultery; For the men themselves go apart with harlots, And offer sacrifices with a ritual harlot. Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled. | 14I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin. |
| 15“Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Let not Judah offend. Do not come up to Gilgal, Nor go up to Beth Aven, Nor swear an oath, saying, ‘As the LORD lives’— | 15Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’ |
| 16“For Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn calf; Now the LORD will let them forage Like a lamb in open country. | 16For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow? |
| 17“Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone. | 17Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone! |
| 18Their drink is rebellion, They commit harlotry continually. Her rulers dearly love dishonor. | 18When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace. |
| 19The wind has wrapped her up in its wings, And they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. | 19The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings, and their sacrifices will bring them shame. |
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