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Chapter 4
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1
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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
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By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing,
and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth
blood. |
3
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Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that
dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the
field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes
of the sea also shall be taken away. |
4
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Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy
people are as they that strive with the priest. |
5
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Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet
also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy
thy mother. |
6
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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 will also forget thy
children. |
7
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As they were increased, so they sinned against me:
therefore will I change their glory into shame. |
8
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They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their
heart on their iniquity. |
9
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And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I
will punish them for their ways, and reward them their
doings. |
10
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For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall
commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they
have left off to take heed to the LORD. |
11
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Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. |
12
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My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff
declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath
caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from
under their God. |
13
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They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and
burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and
elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your
daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall
commit adultery. |
14
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I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom,
nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves
are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots:
therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall. |
15
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Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah
offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up
to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth. |
16
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For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now
the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. |
17
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Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. |
18
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Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually:
her rulers with shame do love, Give ye. |
19
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The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall
be ashamed because of their sacrifices. |
