12 Ami (My people) consult a piece of wood, and their staff declareth unto them; for the ruach zenunim hath caused them to err, and they have played the zonah, forsaking Eloheihem.
13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oak and poplar and terebinth, because the shade thereof is tov; therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your daughters-in-law shall commit ni'uf (adultery).
14 I will not visit punishment upon your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit ni'uf (adultery); because the men consort with zonot, and they sacrifice with kedeshot (temple prostitutes); thus the Am without binah (understanding) shall come to ruin.
15 Though thou, Yisroel, play the zonah, yet let not Yehudah become guilty; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beit-Aven (House of Iniquity, pejorative name for Bethel), nor swear, Chai Hashem (As the L-rd lives).
16 For Yisroel slideth back (i.e., is stubborn, rebellious, unmanageable) like a backsliding parah (stubborn, rebellious cow); now Hashem will feed them like a lamb in a wide field.
17 Ephrayim [i.e., the Northern Kingdom, Israel] is joined to atzabim (idols); leave him alone.
18 When their drink is sour [i.e., when intoxicated], they have committed whoredom; her mogenim (shields, rulers) deeply love kalon (ignominy, shame).