Is there iniquity[in] Gilead?Surelythey are worthless.In Gilgalthey sacrificebulls,Yes,their altarsare like the stoneheapsBesidethe furrowsof the field.
SinceEphraimhas multipliedaltarsfor sin,They have becomealtarsof sinningfor him.
Gileadis a cityof wrongdoers,Trackedwith bloody[footprints].
Thoughyou, Israel,playthe harlot,Do not let Judahbecomeguilty;Also do not goto Gilgal,Or goup to Beth-avenAnd takethe oath:"As the LORDlives!"
Alltheir evilis at Gilgal;Indeed,I came to hatethem there!Becauseof the wickednessof their deedsI will drivethem out of My house!I will lovethem nomore;Alltheir princesare rebels.
Israelis a luxuriantvine;He producesfruitfor himself. The morehis fruit,The morealtarshe made;The richerhis land,The betterhe madethe [sacred] pillars.
"Those who regardvainidolsForsaketheir faithfulness,
"But do not resortto BethelAnd do not cometo Gilgal,Norcrossoverto Beersheba;For Gilgalwill certainlygointo captivityAnd Bethelwill cometo trouble.
"EnterBetheland transgress;In Gilgalmultiplytransgression!Bringyour sacrificesevery morning,Your tithesevery threedays.
They are worthless,a workof mockery;In the timeof their punishmentthey will perish.
But they are altogetherstupidand foolish[In their] disciplineof delusion--their idol is wood!
"But whereare your godsWhichyou madefor yourself? Let them arise,ifthey can saveyou In the timeof your trouble;For [according to] the numberof your citiesAre your gods,O Judah.
"For longagoI brokeyour yoke[And] toreoffyour bonds;But you said,'I will not serve!'For on everyhighhillAnd undereverygreentreeYou have laindownas a harlot.
Now Elijahthe Tishbite,who was of the settlersof Gilead,saidto Ahab,"As the LORD,the Godof Israellives,beforewhomI stand,surelythere shall be neitherdewnor raintheseyears,exceptby my word."
Their heartis faithless;Nowthey must beartheir guilt.The LORD will breakdowntheir altars[And] destroytheir [sacred] pillars.
He said,"HearnowMy words:Ifthere is a prophetamong you, I, the LORD,shall makeMyself knownto him in a vision.I shall speakwith him in a dream.
Yet the LORDwarnedIsraeland JudahthroughallHis prophets[and] everyseer,saying,"Turnfrom your evilwaysand keepMy commandments,My statutesaccording to allthe lawwhichI commandedyour fathers,and whichI sentto you throughMy servantsthe prophets."
"Sonof man,propounda riddleand speaka parableto the houseof Israel,
