1. Hear the word of the Lord, Israelites,for the Lord has a disputewith the inhabitants of the land:There is no fidelity, no loyalty,no knowledge of God in the land.
2. Swearing, lying, murder,stealing and adultery break out;bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3. Therefore the land dries up,and everything that dwells in it languishes:The beasts of the field,the birds of the air,and even the fish of the sea perish.
4. But let no one accuse, let no one rebuke;with you is my dispute, priest!
5. You will stumble in the day,and the prophet will stumble with you at night;I will make an end of your mother.
6. My people are ruined for lack of knowledge!Since you have rejected knowledge,I will reject you from serving as my priest;Since you have forgotten the law of your God,I will also forget your children.
7. The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against me,I will change their glory into shame.
8. They feed on the sin of my people,and are greedy for their iniquity.
9. Like people, like priest:I will punish them for their ways,and repay them for their deeds.