1. Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2. There is nought but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field and the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
4. Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
5. And thou shalt stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; and I will destroy thy mother.
6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.
7. As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame.
8. They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.
9. And it shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and will reward them their doings.