"ThereforeI will yetcontendwith you," declaresthe LORD,"And with your sons'sonsI will contend.
He summonsthe heavensabove,And the earth,to judgeHis people:
"You shall not worshipthem or servethem; for I, the LORDyour God,am a jealousGod,visitingthe iniquityof the fatherson the children,on the thirdand the fourthgenerations of those who hateMe,
The LORDarisesto contend,And standsto judgethe people.
"PutMe in remembrance,let us argueour casetogether;Stateyour [cause], that you may be provedright.
"Whydo you contendwith Me? You have alltransgressedagainst Me," declaresthe LORD.
Yet you said,'I am innocent;SurelyHis angeris turnedawayfrom me.' Behold,I will enterinto judgmentwith you Becauseyou say,'I have not sinned.'
In the wombhe tookhis brotherby the heel,And in his maturityhe contendedwith God.
"Contendwith your mother,contend,For she is not my wife,and I am not her husband;And let her putawayher harlotryfrom her faceAnd her adulteryfrom betweenher breasts,
Listento the wordof the LORD,O sonsof Israel,For the LORDhas a caseagainstthe inhabitantsof the land,Becausethereis nofaithfulnessor kindnessOr knowledgeof Godin the land.
then I Myselfwill setMy faceagainst that manand against his family,and I will cutofffrom amongtheir peopleboth him and allthose who playthe harlotafterhim, by playingthe harlotafterMolech.
"Listen,you mountains,to the indictmentof the LORD,And you enduringfoundationsof the earth,Becausethe LORDhas a caseagainstHis people;Even with IsraelHe will dispute.
