Hosea 5

1 “Hear this, O priests! Take heed, O house of Israel! Give ear, O royal house! For this judgment is against you because you have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.

Hear this, priests! Attend, Israelites! Listen, royal family! For you is the judgment: a snare you have become at Mizpeh, and a net spread out on Tabor,

2 The rebels are deep in slaughter; but I will chastise them all.

the rebels are deep in slaughter, but I will discipline all.

3 I know all about Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me. For now, O Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution; Israel is defiled.

I know Ephraim, Israel is not hidden from me, for you, Ephraim, have committed prostitution and Israel is defiled.

4 Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God, for a spirit of prostitution is within them, and they do not know the LORD.

Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of prostitution is within them, they do not know the Lord.

5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; even Judah stumbles with them.

Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, Israel, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin, and Judah also stumbles with them.

6 They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them.

With their sheep and their cattle they will go to seek the Lord but they will not find him, he has withdrawn from them,

7 They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land.

for they have been untrue to the Lord, their children are strangers. Their new moon festivals will soon destroy them and their fields.

8 Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin!

Blow the trumpet in Gibeah, the clarion in Ramah! Raise the alarm in Beth-aven: we are with you, Benjamin!

9 Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.

Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of punishment, concerning the tribes of Israel I make known what is certain.

10 The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary stones; I will pour out My fury upon them like water.

The princes of Israel have become like thieves who move boundary stones. On them I will pour out my wrath like a flood.

11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.

Ephraim will be oppressed, crushed by judgment, for they are determined to go after vanity.

12 So I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like decay to the house of Judah.

So I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rottenness to the house of Judah.

13 When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.

For when Ephraim saw their sickness and Israel their wound, Ephraim turned to Assyria, to its patron king. But he cannot heal you nor relieve you of your wound.

14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and then go away. I will carry them off where no one can rescue them.

For I myself will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, yes I, will rend and go my way, I will carry off and none will rescue.

15 Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”

I will return to my place, until in remorse they seek my presence. When they are in distress they will quickly seek me,