My people 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.
NIV
My people [habitually] ask counsel of their [senseless] wood [idols], and their staff [of wood] gives them oracles and instructs them. For the spirit of harlotry has led them astray and they have played the harlot, withdrawing themselves from subjection to their God.
AMP
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.
KJV
"Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let 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!'
NIV
Though you, Israel, play the harlot and worship idols, let not Judah offend and become guilty; come not to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth-aven [contemptuous reference to Bethel, then noted for idolatry], nor swear [in idolatrous service, saying], As the Lord lives.
AMP
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.
KJV
Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution; their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
NIV
Their drinking carousal over, they go habitually to play the harlot; [Ephraim's] rulers [continue to] love shame more than her glory [which is the Lord, Israel's God].
AMP
Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
KJV
There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
NIV
There is nothing but [false] swearing and breaking faith and killing and stealing and committing adultery; they break out [into violence], one [deed of] bloodshed following close on another.
AMP
By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
KJV
The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the LORD pasture them like lambs in a meadow?
NIV
For Israel has behaved stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. How then should he expect to be fed and treated by the Lord like a lamb in a large pasture?
AMP
For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
KJV
Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away.
NIV
Therefore shall the land [continually] mourn, and all who dwell in it shall languish, together with the wild beasts of the open country and the birds of the heavens; yes, the fishes of the sea also shall [perish because of the drought] be collected and taken away.
AMP
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.
KJV
"But let no one bring a charge, let no one accuse another, for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest."
NIV
Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove [another--do not waste your time in mutual recriminations], for with you is My contention, O priest.
AMP
Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
KJV
A whirlwind will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
NIV
The resistless wind [of God's wrath] has bound up [Israel] in its wings or skirts, and [in captivity] they and their altars shall be put to shame because of their sacrifices [to calves, to sun, moon, and stars, and to heathen gods].
AMP
The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
KJV
