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4:1  Israel, listen as the Lord accuses everyone in the land! No one is faithful or loyal or truly cares about God.
4:2  Cursing, dishonesty, murder, robbery, unfaithfulness— these happen all the time. Violence is everywhere.
4:3  And so your land is a desert. Every living creature is dying— people and wild animals, birds and fish.
4:4  Don't accuse just anyone! Not everyone is at fault. My case is against you, the priests.
4:5  You and the prophets will stumble day and night; I'll silence your mothers.
4:6  You priests have rejected me, and my people are destroyed by refusing to obey. Now I'll reject you and forget your children, because you have forgotten my Law.
4:7  By adding more of you priests, you multiply the number of people who sin. Now I'll change your pride into shame.
4:8  You encourage others to sin, so you can stuff yourselves on their sin offerings.
4:9  That's why I will punish the people for their deeds, just as I will punish you priests.
4:10  Their food won't satisfy, and having sex at pagan shrines won't produce children. My people have rebelled
4:11  and have been unfaithful to me, their Lord. My people, you are foolish because of too much pleasure and too much wine.
4:12  You expect wooden idols and other objects of wood to give you advice. Lusting for sex at pagan shrines has made you unfaithful to me, your God.
4:13  You offer sacrifices on mountaintops and hills, under oak trees, and wherever good shade is found. Your own daughters and daughters-in-law sell themselves for sex.
4:14  But I won't punish them. You men are to blame, because you go to prostitutes and offer sacrifices with them at pagan shrines. Your own foolishness will lead to your ruin.
4:15  Israel, you are unfaithful, but don't lead Judah to sin. Stop worshiping at Gilgal or at sinful Bethel. And quit making promises in my name—the name of the living Lord.
4:16  You are nothing more than a stubborn cow— so stubborn that I, the Lord, cannot feed you like lambs in an open pasture.
4:17  You people of Israel are charmed by idols. Leave those people alone!
4:18  You get drunk, then sleep with prostitutes; you would rather be vulgar than lead a decent life.
4:19  And so you will be swept away in a whirlwind for sacrificing to idols.