< 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,
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.
2 which they that hunt the prey have fixed: but I will correct you.
Yet they were profounde, to decline to slaughter, though I haue bene a rebuker 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 knowe Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for nowe, O Ephraim thou art become an harlot, and 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 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.
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 doth testifie to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquitie: Iudah 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6 They shall go with sheep and calves diligently to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him, for he has withdrawn himself from them.
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.
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 haue transgressed against the Lord: for they haue begotte strange children: now shall a moneth deuoure 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.
Blowe ye the trumpet in Gibeah, and the shaume in Ramah: crie out at Beth-auen, after thee, O Beniamin.
9 Ephraim has come to nothing in the days of reproof: in the tribes of Israel I have shown faithful [dealings].
Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel haue I caused to knowe the trueth.
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 Iudah were like them that remoue the bounde: therefore will I powre out my wrath vpon them like water.
11 Ephraim altogether prevailed against his adversary, he trod judgment under foot, for he began to go after vanities.
Ephraim is oppressed, and broken in iudgement, because he willingly walked after the commandement.
12 Therefore I [will be] as consternation to Ephraim, and as a goad to the house of Juda.
Therefore wil I be vnto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Iudah as a rottennesse.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 returne to my place, til they acknowledge their fault, and seeke me: in their affliction they will seeke me diligently.

< Osee 5 >