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