Hear this, priests!(A)
Pay attention, house of Israel!
Listen, royal house!
For the judgment applies to you
because you have been a snare at Mizpah(B)
and a net spread out on Tabor.
Rebels(C) are deeply involved in slaughter;(D)
I will be a punishment for all of them.[a]
I know Ephraim,(E)
and Israel is not hidden from Me.
For now, Ephraim,(F)
you have acted promiscuously;
Israel is defiled.
Their actions do not allow them
to return to their God,(G)
for a spirit of promiscuity is among them,(H)
and they do not know the Lord.(I)
Israel’s arrogance testifies against them.[b](J)
Both Israel and Ephraim stumble
because of their wickedness;(K)
even Judah will stumble with them.(L)
They go with their flocks and herds
to seek the Lord(M)
but do not find Him;(N)
He has withdrawn from them.(O)
They betrayed the Lord;(P)
indeed, they gave birth to illegitimate children.(Q)
Now the New Moon(R) will devour them
along with their fields.(S)

Blow the horn in Gibeah,(T)
the trumpet in Ramah;(U)
raise the war cry in Beth-aven:(V)
After you, Benjamin!(W)
Ephraim will become a desolation(X)
on the day of punishment;(Y)
I announce what is certain
among the tribes of Israel.(Z)
10 The princes of Judah are like those
who move boundary markers;(AA)
I will pour out My fury(AB) on them like water.(AC)
11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,(AD)
for he is determined to follow what is worthless.[c]
12 So I am like rot to Ephraim(AE)
and like decay to the house of Judah.
13 When Ephraim saw his sickness
and Judah his wound,
Ephraim went to Assyria(AF)
and sent a delegation to the great king.[d](AG)
But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.(AH)
14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim(AI)
and like a young lion to the house of Judah.
Yes, I will tear them to pieces and depart.(AJ)
I will carry them off,
and no one can rescue them.(AK)
15 I will depart and return to My place
until they recognize their guilt and seek My face;(AL)
they will search for Me in their distress.(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 5:2 Hb obscure
  2. Hosea 5:5 Lit against his face
  3. Hosea 5:11 Or follow a command; Hb obscure
  4. Hosea 5:13 Or to King Yareb

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