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¹ Heare the worde of the Lorde O ye chyldren of Israel, for the Lord hath a controuersie with the inhabitauntes of the lande: for there is no trueth, there is no mercy, there is no knowledge of God in the lande.² But swearing, lying, manslaughter, theft, and adulterie, hath gotten the ouer hande, and one bloodgiltinesse foloweth another.³ Therfore shall the lande mourne, and all they that dwell therein shalbe rooted out, the beastes of the fielde, the foules of the ayre, and the fisshes in the sea, shalbe consumed.⁴ Yet let no man rebuke or reproue another, for thy people [are] as they that are at controuersie with the priest.⁵ Therefore shalt thou fall in the day tyme, and the prophete with thee in the night, and I wyll bryng thy mother to destruction.

⁶ My people perishe for lacke of knowledge: because thou hast refused knowledge, therfore wyll I refuse thee also, so that thou shalt no more be my priest: and forsomuche as thou hast forgotten the lawe of thy God, I wyll also forget thy chyldren.⁷ The more they increased in multitude, the more they sinned against me, [therfore] wyll I chaunge their honour into shame.⁸ They eate vp the sinnes of my people, and encourage them in their wickednesse.⁹ Thus the priest is become lyke the people: Wherfore I wyll punishe them for their wicked wayes, and rewarde them according to their owne imaginations.¹⁰ They shal eate and not haue inough, they haue vsed whordome, but shall not prosper, they haue forsaken the Lorde, and not regarded him.¹¹ Whordome, wine, and newe wine, take the heart away.

¹² My people aske counsell at their stockes, and their staffe teacheth them: for the spirite of fornication hath caused [them] to go astray, and they haue committed fornication against their God.¹³ They make sacrifices vpon the tops of the mountaines, and burne their incense vpon the hilles, yea vnder the okes, poplars, and elmes, for there are good shadowes: therfore your daughters are become harlots, and your spouses haue broken their wedlocke.¹⁴ I wyll not punishe your daughters for beyng defiled, and your spouses that became whoores: seeing the fathers them selues haue medled with harlots, and sacrificed with whoores: but the people that wyll not vnderstande, must be punished.¹⁵ Though thou Israel play the harlot, yet let not Iuda sinne, come not ye vnto Gilgal, neither go ye to Bethauen, neither sweare ye, The Lorde liueth.¹⁶ For Israel is rebellious like an vnrulye heysfer: nowe the Lorde wyll feede them as a lambe in a large place.¹⁷ Ephraim [is become] partaker of idols, let hym alone.¹⁸ Their drunkennesse stinketh, they haue committed whordome: their rulers loue [to say] with shame, Bryng ye.¹⁹ The winde hath bounde them vp in her winges, and they shall be ashamed of their sacrifices.