The Hebrew Prophets

My people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge: because thou hast refused knowledge, I will also refuse thee, that thou shalt be no Priest to me: and seeing thou hast forgotten the Lawe of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I chaunge their glorie into shame.

They eate vp the sinnes of my people, and lift vp their mindes in their iniquitie.

And there shalbe like people, like Priest: for I wil visite their wayes vpon them, and reward them their deedes.

For they shall eate, and not haue ynough: they shall commit adulterie, and shall not increase, because they haue left off to take heede to ye Lord.

Whoredome, and wine, and newe wine take away their heart.

My people aske counsell at their stockes, and their staffe teacheth them: for the spirite of fornications hath caused them to erre, and they haue gone a whoring from vnder their God.

They sacrifice vpon the toppes of ye mountaines, and burne incense vpon the hilles vnder the okes, and the poplar tree, and the elme, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall be harlots, and your spouses shall be whores.

I will not visite your daughters when they are harlots: nor your spouses when they are whores: for they themselues are separated with harlots, and sacrifice with whores: therefore the people that doeth not vnderstand, shall fall.

Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Iudah sinne: come not ye vnto Gilgal, neither goe ye vp to Beth-auen, nor sweare, The Lord liueth.

For Israel is rebellious as an vnruly heyfer. Nowe the Lord will feede them as a lambe in a large place.

Ephraim is ioyned to idoles: let him alone.

Their drunkennes stinketh: they haue committed whoredome: their rulers loue to say with shame, Bring ye.

The winde hath bounde them vp in her wings, and they shalbe ashamed of their sacrifices.

O ye Priestes, heare this, and hearken ye, O house of Israel, and giue ye eare, O house of the King: for iudgement is towarde you, because you haue bene a snare on Mizpah, and a net spred vpon Tabor.

Yet they were profounde, to decline to slaughter, though I haue bene a rebuker of them all.

I knowe Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for nowe, O Ephraim thou art become an harlot, and Israel is defiled.

They will not giue their mindes to turne vnto their God: for the spirit of fornication is in the middes of them, and they haue not knowen the Lord.

And the pride of Israel doth testifie to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquitie: Iudah also shall fall with them.

They shall goe with their sheepe, and with their bullockes to seeke the Lord: but they shall not finde him: for he hath withdrawne himselfe from them.

They haue transgressed against the Lord: for they haue begotte strange children: now shall a moneth deuoure them with their portions.

Blowe ye the trumpet in Gibeah, and the shaume in Ramah: crie out at Beth-auen, after thee, O Beniamin.

Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel haue I caused to knowe the trueth.

The princes of Iudah were like them that remoue the bounde: therefore will I powre out my wrath vpon them like water.

Ephraim is oppressed, and broken in iudgement, because he willingly walked after the commandement.