² Ye heavens, hear, and thou earth, perceive with ears, for the Lord spake. I have nourished and I have enhanced sons; soothly they have despised me. (Ye heavens, hear, and thou earth, listen, for the Lord spoke. I have nourished and I have raised up my children; but they have despised me.)

³ An ox knew his lord, and an ass knew the cratch of his lord; but Israel knew not me, and my people understood not. (An ox knew its master, and a donkey knew its master’s stall; but Israel knoweth not, and my people do not understand.)

⁴ Woe to the sinful folk, to the people heavy in wickedness, to the wayward seed, to the cursed sons; they have forsaken the Lord, they have blasphemed the Holy of Israel, they be aliened [away] backward. (Woe to this sinful nation, to the people heavy in wickedness, to this depraved generation, to these cursed sons and daughters; they have deserted the Lord, they have blasphemed the Holy One of Israel, they have turned their backs on him.)