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God’s Case Against the People

12 “My people ask wooden idols for ·advice [counsel];
    they ask ·those sticks of wood [or divining rods/staffs] to advise them!
·Like prostitutes, they have chased after other gods [L A spirit/wind of prostitution leads/blows them astray]
    ·and have left [committing adultery against; being unfaithful to] their own God.
13 They make sacrifices on the tops of the mountains [C places of pagan worship].
    They burn offerings on the hills,
under oaks, poplars, and ·other trees [terebinths],
    because their shade is ·nice [pleasant].
So your daughters become prostitutes [C cultic prostitutes in pagan temples],
    and your daughters-in-law are guilty of adultery.

14 “But I will not punish your daughters
    for becoming prostitutes,
nor your daughters-in-law
    for their sins of adultery.
I will not punish them,
    because the men ·have sexual relations [go off] with prostitutes
and offer sacrifices with the ·temple [cult; shrine] prostitutes.
    A ·foolish people [people without knowledge/discernment] will be ·ruined [destroyed].

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12 
My people consult their [lifeless] wooden idol, and their [diviner’s] wand gives them oracles.
For a spirit of prostitution has led them astray [morally and spiritually],
And they have played the prostitute, withdrawing themselves from their God.
13 
They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains
And burn incense on the hills,
Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,
Because the shade is pleasant there.
Therefore your daughters play the prostitute
And your brides commit adultery.
14 
I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute
Or your brides when they commit adultery,
For the men themselves slip away with prostitutes,
And they offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes [who give their bodies in honor of the idol].
So the people without understanding [stumble and fall and] come to ruin.

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12 My people consult a wooden idol,(A)
    and a diviner’s rod speaks to them.(B)
A spirit of prostitution(C) leads them astray;(D)
    they are unfaithful(E) to their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops
    and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak,(F) poplar and terebinth,
    where the shade is pleasant.(G)
Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution(H)
    and your daughters-in-law to adultery.(I)

14 “I will not punish your daughters
    when they turn to prostitution,
nor your daughters-in-law
    when they commit adultery,
because the men themselves consort with harlots(J)
    and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes(K)
    a people without understanding(L) will come to ruin!(M)

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