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 this, O ye priests; and listen well, O ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for the punishment threateneth you; because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread out upon Thabor.

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

And for murdering they who had rebelled [against God] concealed themselves in deep places; but I will inflict correction on 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 well know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, O Ephraim, hast thou played the 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.

Their doings will not permit them to return unto their God; for the spirit of lewdness is in their bosom, and the Lord they have not known.

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.

Therefore shall the pride of Israel be humbled before his face: and Israel and Ephraim shall stumble in their iniquity; Judah also shall stumble 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6 They shall go with sheep and calves diligently to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him, for he has withdrawn himself from them.

With their flocks and with their herds will they go to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him: he hath withdrawn himself from them.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.

Against the Lord have they dealt treacherously; for strange children have they begotten: now shall one month devour them together with their possessions.

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 Gib'ah, the trumpet in Ramah: blow the alarm at Beth-aven, [The enemy is] after thee, 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 made desolate on the day of chastisement: among the tribes of Israel had I made known that which is true.

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 Judah were like those that remove the landmark: my wrath, therefore, will I pour out upon them like water.

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

Oppressed is Ephraim, broken through punishment; because he willingly walked after the commandment [of false prophets].

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

But like the moth became I unto Ephraim, and like rottenness to the house of Judah.

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.

Then saw Ephraim his sickness, and Judah his wound, and Ephraim went to Asshur, and [the other] sent to the king that should contend [[Jareb]]; but he will never be able to heal you, nor remove from you 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 am as a lion unto Ephraim, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I myself will tear in pieces and go away; I will bear away, and none shall deliver.

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 [from here, and] return to my place, till they acknowledge their guilt, and seek my presence: in their affliction will they seek for me.