Sacrifices Ineffective without Moral Obedience

11 Although Ephraim has built many altars for sin offerings,

these have become altars for sinning!

12 I spelled out my law for him in great detail,

but they regard it as something totally unknown to them!

13 They offer up sacrificial gifts to me,

and eat the meat,

but the Lord does not accept their sacrifices.

Soon he will remember their wrongdoing,

he will punish their sins,

and they will return to Egypt.

14 Israel has forgotten his Maker and built royal palaces,

and Judah has built many fortified cities.

But I will send fire on their cities;

it will consume their royal citadels.

9 O Israel, do not rejoice jubilantly like the nations,

for you are unfaithful to your God.

You love to receive a prostitute's wages

on all the floors where you thresh your grain.

2 Threshing floors and wine vats will not feed the people,

and new wine only deceives them.