Osee 5

1 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,

Hear ye this, O priests, and hearken, O ye house of Israel, and give ear, O house of the king: for there is a judgment against you, because you have been a snare to them whom you should have watched over, and a net spread upon Thabor.

2 which they that hunt the prey have fixed: but I will correct you.

And you have turned aside victims into the depth: and I am, the teacher of them all.

3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not far from me: for now Ephraim has gone grievously a-whoring, Israel is defiled.

I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now Ephraim hath committed fornication, Israel is defiled.

4 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.

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.

5 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.

And the pride of Israel shall answer in his face: and Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity, Juda also shall fall with them.

6 They shall go with sheep and calves diligently to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him, for he has withdrawn himself from them.

With their flocks, and with their herds, they shall go to seek the Lord, and shall not find him: he is withdrawn from them.

7 For they have forsaken the Lord; for strange children have been born to them: now shall the cankerworm devour them and their heritages.

They have transgressed against the Lord, for they have begotten children that are strangers: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

8 Blow you the trumpet on the hills, sound aloud on the heights: proclaim in the house of On, Benjamin is amazed.

Blow ye the cornet in Gabaa, the trumpet in Rama: howl ye in Bethaven, behind thy back, O Benjamin.

9 Ephraim has come to nothing in the days of reproof: in the tribes of Israel I have shown faithful [dealings].

Ephraim shall be in desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel I have shewn that which shall surely be.

10 The princes of Juda became as they that removed the bounds: I will pour out upon them my fury as water.

The princes of Juda are become as they that take up the bound: I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

11 Ephraim altogether prevailed against his adversary, he trod judgment under foot, for he began to go after vanities.

Ephraim is under oppression, and broken in judgment: because he began to go after filthiness.

12 Therefore I [will be] as consternation to Ephraim, and as a goad to the house of Juda.

And I will be like a moth to Ephraim: and like rottenness to the house of Juda.

13 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.

And Ephraim saw his sickness, and Juda his band: and Ephraim went to the Assyrian, and sent to the avenging king: and he shall not be able to heal you, neither shall he be able to take off the band from you.

14 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.

For I will be like a lioness to Ephraim, and like a lion’s whelp to the house of Juda: I, I will catch, and go: I will take away, and there is none that can rescue.

15 I will go and return to my place, until they are brought to nothing, and [then] shall they seek my face.

I will go and return to my place: until you are consumed, and seek my face.