4 然而，人都不必争辩，也不必指责，因为这民与抗拒祭司的人一样。
4 Yet let no one contend,
and let none accuse,
for with you is my contention, O priest.
5 你这祭司必日间跌倒；先知也必夜间与你一同跌倒；我必灭绝你的母亲。
5 You shall stumble by day;
the prophet also shall stumble with you by night;
and I will destroy your mother.
6 我的民因无知识而灭亡。你弃掉知识，我也必弃掉你，使你不再给我作祭司。你既忘了你 神的律法，我也必忘记你的儿女。
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
先说希伯来诗歌的平行体问题。比如第5节，不是说祭司日间跌倒，先知却是夜间跌倒，而应当理解为祭司和先知日夜跌倒。
其次，第四节的英文更合理：人都不要争辩，我是要和祭司争辩。
负责带领百姓的祭司没有好好带领，不将认识神的知识传达给百姓，以至于神的百姓因无知识而灭亡。祭司弃掉知识，忘记神的律法，因此神也会弃掉这样的祭司，灭掉他的母亲，忘记他的儿女。