1. Hear 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 mercyOr knowledge of God in the land.
2. By swearing and lying,Killing and stealing and committing adultery,They break all restraint,With bloodshed upon bloodshed.
3. Therefore the land will mourn;And everyone who dwells there will waste awayWith the beasts of the fieldAnd the birds of the air;Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.
4. “Now let no man contend, or rebuke another;For your people are like those who contend with the priest.
5. Therefore you shall stumble in the day;The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night;And I will destroy your mother.
6. My 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.