Hosea 5

1 Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment [is] toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon 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 And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I [have been] a rebuker of them all.

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

3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, [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 frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms [is] in the midst of them, and they have not known 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 testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah 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6 They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find [him; ] he hath withdrawn himself from them.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 He has withdrawn himself from them.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 have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour 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 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, [and] the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud [at] Beth-aven, after thee, O Benjamin.

“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 have I made known that which shall surely be.

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 Judah were like them that remove the bound: [therefore] I will pour out my wrath upon 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 judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

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

12 Therefore [will] I [be] unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.

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

13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah [saw] his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal 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] unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, [even] I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue [him].

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] return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

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.”