1. Hear the word of the Lord, ye sons of Israel; for the Lord contends with the inhabitants of the land because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the earth.
2. By swearing and lying and murdering and stealing and committing adultery, they prevailed, and blood touches blood.
3. Therefore the earth shall mourn, and every one that dwells therein shall be cut off, with the beasts of the field and the fowls of heaven; and even the fishes of the sea shall be caught.
4. Certainly man does not contend with nor reprehend man; for thy people are as those that resist the priest.
5. Therefore thou shalt fall in the day, and the prophet shall also fall with thee by night, and I will cut off thy mother.
6. My people were cut off because they lacked wisdom; because thou hast rejected wisdom, I will cast thee out of the priesthood; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy sons.
7. According to their greatness, so did they sin against me; therefore I will change their honour into shame.
8. They eat up the sin of my people, and in their iniquity they raise up their soul.
9. The people shall become like the priest; and I will visit his ways upon him, and they shall reward him according to his doings.