Hosea 5
1 “Listen, you priests! And you [other] Israeli people, you also pay attention! And you who are members of the king’s family, [you also need to] listen, because [I am going to] judge you! Your [worshiping idols] has been [like] [MET] a trap for [the people at] Mizpah [town]; it has been [like][MET] a net spread out [to catch people] at Tabor [Mountain].
Hear ye this—O priests, and attend, O house of Israel, and ye, House of the King, give ear, for, to you, pertaineth the sentence, —for, a snare, have ye been to Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor.
2 You have done many evil things, so I will punish all of you.
And, a slaughter, have apostates deeply designed, —though, I, was a rebuker to them all.
3 I know [everything about the people of] Israel; nothing that they have done is hidden from me. Because [the people of] Israel have given themselves [to worshiping idols] like [MET] prostitutes [give themselves to the men they sleep with], they have become unacceptable to me.
I, have known Ephraim, and, Israel, hath not been hidden from me, —for, now, hast thou committed unchastity, O Ephraim, Israel, hath made himself impure.
4 Because they [like to do evil] things, they will not return to [me], their God. Like prostitutes [who have abandoned their husbands] [MET], they have [IDM] abandoned [MET] me; they do not [even] know me, Yahweh.
Their doings, will not suffer, them to return unto their God, —for, the spirit of unchastity, is within them, and, Yahweh, have they not known.
5 [It is as though] their being proud testifies [PRS] against them. The sins that [the people of] Israel have committed [are like a heavy load that] causes them to stumble, and [the people of] Judah stumble with them.
Therefore will the Excellency of Israel, answer, to his face, —and, Israel and Ephraim, shall stumble in their iniquity, even Judah with them, hath stumbled.
6 They will come to worship [me], Yahweh, bringing their herds of sheep and cattle, but they will not [be able to] find me, because I have abandoned them.
With their flocks and with their herds, will they go to seek Yahweh, but shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.
7 They have abandoned me; and their children do not belong to me [MET]. So [they will not be able to celebrate their festivals at] the new moons [because I] will destroy them and [the crops in] their fields.
With Yahweh, have they dealt treacherously, for, to alien children, have they given birth, —now, a new moon, shall devour them, with their portions.
8 Blow the [rams’] horns in Gibeah [town] [and blow] the trumpets in Ramah [town]! Warn [the people at] Beth-Aven [town]; you warriors of the tribe of Benjamin, lead the troops [into the battle].
Blow ye a horn in Gibeah, a trumpet in Ramah, —sound an alarm at Beth-aven, behind thee, O Benjamin!
9 Israel will be ruined on the day that [I] destroy them. What I am telling to the tribes of Israel will certainly [happen].
Ephraim, shall become, a desolation, in the day of rebuke: Throughout the tribes of Israel, have I hide known what is sure.
10 [Because] the leaders of Judah [seized some land that belonged to Israel], they are like [SIM] those who move boundary markers [to get more land for themselves]; [so] I will punish them severely [MET].
The rulers of Judah have become as they who remove a land-mark. Upon them, will I pour out, like water, my wrath.
11 And [the people of] Israel will suffer greatly when I punish them, because they are [very] determined to worship idols.
Oppressed, is Ephraim, crushed in judgment, —because he hath, wilfully, walked after falsehood.
12 I will destroy [the people of] Israel like [SIM] ([larvae of] moths/cockroaches) destroy wool, and I will cause [the people of] Judah to be like [SIM] rotten wood.
But, I, was like a moth, to Ephraim, —and like rotten wood to the house of Judah.
13 When [the leaders of] Israel and Judah saw that the people were suffering because of what [their enemies were doing to them] [MET], they sent [messages] to the great King of Assyria requesting [his help]. But he cannot help you; he cannot cause you to stop suffering, [because I am the one who is punishing Israel and Judah].
When Ephraim, saw, his injury, and Judah his wound, then went Ephraim unto Assyria, and [Judah] sent unto a hostile king, —yet, he, cannot heal you, nor will the wound, remove from you.
14 I will become like [SIM] a lion [DOU] to both nations; I will [attack them and] tear them to pieces. I will drag them away, and no one will [be able to] rescue them.
For, I, will be as a lion unto Ephraim, and as a young lion to the house of Judah, —I, I, will tear in pieces, and depart, I will carry off, and none be able to rescue.
15 [After that], I will return to my place [in heaven] until they admit that they have sinned [MTY] and return to me; when they will experience [many] troubles, they will request me [to help them].”
I will depart, will return unto my place! till what time they acknowledge their guilt, and seek my face, —In their trouble, will they make for me diligent search.
