1. Hear the word of the lord, O people of Israel!The lord has brought charges against you, saying:“There is no faithfulness, no kindness,no knowledge of God in your land.
2. You make vows and break them;you kill and steal and commit adultery.There is violence everywhere—one murder after another.
3. That is why your land is in mourning,and everyone is wasting away.Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky,and the fish of the sea are disappearing.
4. “Don’t point your finger at someone elseand try to pass the blame!My complaint, you priests,is with you.
5. So you will stumble in broad daylight,and your false prophets will fall with you in the night.And I will destroy Israel, your mother.
6. My people are being destroyedbecause they don’t know me.Since you priests refuse to know me,I refuse to recognize you as my priests.Since you have forgotten the laws of your God,I will forget to bless your children.
7. The more priests there are,the more they sin against me.They have exchanged the glory of Godfor the shame of idols.