So I let them go their stubborn ways and do whatever they wanted.

They are like young plants, just set out and barely rooted. When the LORD sends a wind, they dry up and blow away like straw.

Israel's greatness will fly away like a bird, and there will be no more children born to them, no more women pregnant, no more children conceived.

But even if they did bring up children, I would take them away and not leave one alive. When I abandon these people, terrible things will happen to them."

The people of Israel are like a plant whose roots have dried up and which bears no fruit. They will have no children, but even if they did, I would kill the children so dear to them."

The God I serve will reject his people, because they have not listened to him. They will become wanderers among the nations.

And so the people sinned, going to worship in Bethel and in Dan.

This sin on his part brought about the ruin and total destruction of his dynasty.

This happened because Jeroboam aroused the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, by the sins that he committed and that he caused Israel to commit.

Like King Jeroboam before him, he sinned against the LORD and led Israel into sin.

"You were a nobody, but I made you the leader of my people Israel. And now you have sinned like Jeroboam and have led my people into sin. Their sins have aroused my anger,

He said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you, that you have made them commit such a terrible sin?"

So the LORD sent a disease on the people, because they had caused Aaron to make the gold bull-calf.

prophets speak nothing but lies; priests rule as the prophets command, and my people offer no objections. But what will they do when it all comes to an end?"

Israel is suffering oppression; she has lost land that was rightfully hers, because she insisted on going for help to those who had none to give.

I will bring destruction on Israel and ruin on the people of Judah.

This will happen because you have followed the evil practices of King Omri and of his son, King Ahab. You have continued their policies, and so I will bring you to ruin, and everyone will despise you. People everywhere will treat you with contempt."

How terrible for the world that there are things that make people lose their faith! Such things will always happen---but how terrible for the one who causes them!

So then, let us stop judging one another. Instead, you should decide never to do anything that would make others stumble or fall into sin.