and followed the practices of the nations(A) the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city(B) they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10 They set up sacred stones(C) and Asherah poles(D) on every high hill and under every spreading tree.(E) 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. 12 They worshiped idols,(F) though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.”[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 17:12 Exodus 20:4,5

The Charge Against Israel

Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites,
    because the Lord has a charge(A) to bring
    against you who live in the land:(B)
“There is no faithfulness,(C) no love,
    no acknowledgment(D) of God in the land.(E)

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There is only cursing,[a] lying(A) and murder,(B)
    stealing(C) and adultery;(D)
they break all bounds,
    and bloodshed follows bloodshed.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:2 That is, to pronounce a curse on

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