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The Failure of Israel’s Leaders

“Hear this, you priests.
    Pay attention, you leaders of Israel.
Listen, you members of the royal family.
    Judgment has been handed down against you.
For you have led the people into a snare
    by worshiping the idols at Mizpah and Tabor.
You have dug a deep pit to trap them at Acacia Grove.[a]
    But I will settle with you for what you have done.
I know what you are like, O Ephraim.
    You cannot hide yourself from me, O Israel.
You have left me as a prostitute leaves her husband;
    you are utterly defiled.
Your deeds won’t let you return to your God.
    You are a prostitute through and through,
    and you do not know the Lord.

“The arrogance of Israel testifies against her;
    Israel and Ephraim will stumble under their load of guilt.
    Judah, too, will fall with them.

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Footnotes

  1. 5:2 Hebrew at Shittim. The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.

“Listen to this, you priests and all of Israel’s leaders; listen, all you men of the royal family: You are doomed! For you have deluded the people with idols at Mizpah and Tabor and dug a deep pit to trap them at Acacia. But never forget—I will settle up with all of you for what you’ve done.

“I have seen your evil deeds: Israel, you have left me as a prostitute leaves her husband; you are utterly defiled. Your deeds won’t let you come to God again, for the spirit of adultery is deep within you, and you cannot know the Lord.

“The very arrogance of Israel testifies against her in my court. She will stumble under her load of guilt, and Judah, too, shall fall.

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