< Hosea 5 >
1 Hear this, priests, and pay attention, house of Israel, and listen closely, house of the king. For there is a judgment against you, because you have become a trap for those you watched over, and a net stretched out over Tabor.
Hear these things, you priests; and attend, O house of Israel; and listen, O house of the king; for the controversy is with you, because you have been a snare in Scopia, and as a net spread on Itabyrium,
2 And you have led astray victims into the depths, though I am the teacher of them all.
which they that hunt the prey have fixed: but I will correct you.
3 I know Ephraim, and Israel has not been hidden from me, yet now Ephraim has committed fornication, and Israel has been contaminated.
I know Ephraim, and Israel is not far from me: for now Ephraim has gone grievously a-whoring, Israel is defiled.
4 They will not set their thoughts to return to their God, for the spirit of fornication is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord.
They have not framed their counsels to return to their God, for the spirit of fornication is in them, and they have not known the Lord.
5 And the arrogance of Israel will answer to his face. And Israel and Ephraim will fall in their iniquity, and even Judah will fall with them.
And the pride of Israel shall be brought low before his face; and Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquities; and Judas also shall fall with them.
6 With their flocks and their herds, they will go to seek the Lord, and they will not find him. He has taken himself away from them.
They shall go with sheep and calves diligently to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him, for he has withdrawn himself from them.
7 They have sinned against the Lord. For they have conceived sons that are strangers. Now one month will devour them with all their own.
For they have forsaken the Lord; for strange children have been born to them: now shall the cankerworm devour them and their heritages.
8 Sound the bugle in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah. Shout in Bethaven, behind your back, O Benjamin.
Blow you the trumpet on the hills, sound aloud on the heights: proclaim in the house of On, Benjamin is amazed.
9 Ephraim will be in desolation on the day of correction, for within the tribes of Israel, I have revealed faith.
Ephraim has come to nothing in the days of reproof: in the tribes of Israel I have shown faithful [dealings].
10 The leaders of Judah have become like those who assume the end. I will pour my wrath over them like water.
The princes of Juda became as they that removed the bounds: I will pour out upon them my fury as water.
11 Ephraim has been enduring malicious slander and broken judgment, because he began to go after filth.
Ephraim altogether prevailed against his adversary, he trod judgement under foot, for he began to go after vanities.
12 And I will be like a moth to Ephraim, and like decay to the house of Judah.
Therefore I [will be] as consternation to Ephraim, and as a goad to the house of Juda.
13 And Ephraim saw his own weakness, and Judah his chains. And Ephraim went to Assur, and he sent to the Avenging king. But he will not be able to heal you, nor is he able to release you from your chains.
And Ephraim saw his disease, and Judas his pain; then Ephraim went to the Assyrians, and sent ambassadors to king Jarim: but he could not heal you, and your pain shall in nowise cease from you.
14 For I will be like a lioness to Ephraim, and like a lion’s offspring to the house of Judah. I myself will seize and go forth. I will take away, and there is no one who can rescue.
Therefore I am as a panther to Ephraim, and as a lion to the house of Juda: and I will tear, and go away; and I will take, and there shall be none to deliver.
15 I will go and return to my place, until you shall grow faint and seek my face.
I will go and return to my place, until they are brought to nothing, and [then] shall they seek my face.