Hosea 5

1 O ye Priestes, heare this, and hearken ye, O house of Israel, and giue ye eare, O house of the King: for iudgement is towarde you, because you haue bene a snare on Mizpah, and a net spred vpon Tabor.

“Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, and give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor.

2 Yet they were profounde, to decline to slaughter, though I haue bene a rebuker of them all.

The rebels are deep in slaughter, but I discipline all of them.

3 I knowe Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for nowe, O Ephraim thou art become an harlot, and Israel is defiled.

I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, Ephraim, you have played the prostitute. Israel is defiled.

4 They will not giue their mindes to turne vnto their God: for the spirit of fornication is in the middes of them, and they haue not knowen the Lord.

Their deeds won’t allow them to turn to their God, for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they don’t know the LORD.

5 And the pride of Israel doth testifie to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquitie: Iudah also shall fall with them.

The pride of Israel testifies to his face. Therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them.

6 They shall goe with their sheepe, and with their bullockes to seeke the Lord: but they shall not finde him: for he hath withdrawne himselfe from them.

They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD, but they won’t find him. He has withdrawn himself from them.

7 They haue transgressed against the Lord: for they haue begotte strange children: now shall a moneth deuoure them with their portions.

They are unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields.

8 Blowe ye the trumpet in Gibeah, and the shaume in Ramah: crie out at Beth-auen, after thee, O Beniamin.

“Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the shofar in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin!

9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel haue I caused to knowe the trueth.

Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel, I have made known that which will surely be.

10 The princes of Iudah were like them that remoue the bounde: therefore will I powre out my wrath vpon them like water.

The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water.

11 Ephraim is oppressed, and broken in iudgement, because he willingly walked after the commandement.

Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment, because he is intent in his pursuit of idols.

12 Therefore wil I be vnto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Iudah as a rottennesse.

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

13 When Ephraim sawe his sickenes, and Iudah his wound, then went Ephraim vnto Asshur, and sent vnto King Iareb: yet coulde hee not heale you, nor cure you of your wound.

“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to King Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.

14 For I will be vnto Ephraim as a lyon, and as a lyons whelpe to the house of Iudah: I, euen I will spoyle, and goe away: I will take away, and none shall rescue it.

For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver.

15 I will go, and returne to my place, til they acknowledge their fault, and seeke me: in their affliction they will seeke me diligently.

I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.”