4:1Hear 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.
4:2By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
4:3Therefore 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.
4:4Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
4:5Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
4:6My 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.
4:7As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
4:8They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
4:9And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
4:10For 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.
4:11Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.