| Bible in Basic English (BBE) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Give ear to the word of the Lord, O children of Israel; for the Lord has a cause against the people of this land, because there is no good faith in it, and no mercy and no knowledge of God in the land.
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1 Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.
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2 There is cursing and broken faith, violent death and attacks on property, men are untrue in married life, houses are broken into, and there is blood touching blood.
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2 There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
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3 Because of this the land will be dry, and everyone living in it will be wasted away, with the beasts of the field and the birds of heaven; even the fishes of the sea will be taken away.
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3 Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.
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4 Let no man go to law or make protests, for your people are like those who go to law with a priest.
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4 "But let no man bring a charge, let no man accuse another, for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.
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5 You will not be able to keep on your feet by day, and by night the prophet will be falling down with you, and I will give your mother to destruction.
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5 You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother--
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6 Destruction has overtaken my people because they have no knowledge; because you have given up knowledge, I will give you up, so that you will be no priest to me, because you have not kept in mind the law of your God, I will not keep your children in my memory.
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6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
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7 Even while they were increasing in number they were sinning against me; I will let their glory be changed into shame.
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7 The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful.
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8 The sin of my people is like food to them; and their desire is for their wrongdoing.
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8 They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness.
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9 And the priest will be like the people; I will give them punishment for their evil ways, and the reward of their acts.
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9 And it will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
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10 They will have food, but they will not be full; they will be false to me, but they will not be increased, because they no longer give thought to the Lord.
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10 "They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not increase, because they have deserted the LORD to give themselves
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11 Loose ways and new wine take away wisdom.
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11 to prostitution, to old wine and new, which take away the understanding
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12 My people get knowledge from their tree, and their rod gives them news; for a false spirit is the cause of their wandering, and they have been false to their God.
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12 of my people. They consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God.
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13 They make offerings on the tops of mountains, burning perfumes in high places, under trees of every sort, because their shade is good: and so your daughters are given up to loose ways and your brides are false to their husbands.
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13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, where the shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.
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14 I will not give punishment to your daughters or your brides for their evil behaviour; for they make themselves separate with loose women, and make offerings with those who are used for sex purposes in the worship of the gods: the people who have no wisdom will be sent away.
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14 "I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes-- a people without understanding will come to ruin!
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15 Do not you, O Israel, come into error; do not you, O Judah, come to Gilgal, or go up to Beth-aven, or take an oath, By the living Lord.
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15 "Though you commit adultery, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty. "Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven. And do not swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives!'
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16 For Israel is uncontrolled, like a cow which may not be controlled; now will the Lord give them food like a lamb in a wide place.
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16 The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the LORD pasture them like lambs in a meadow?
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17 Ephraim is joined to false gods; let him be.
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17 Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
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18 Their drink has become bitter; they are completely false; her rulers take pleasure in shame.
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18 Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution; their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
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19 They are folded in the skirts of the wind; they will be shamed because of their offerings.
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19 A whirlwind will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
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| The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain. (The Bible in Basic English Version Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
