Hosea 5

1 “Hear this, priests! Pay attention, house of Israel! Listen, house of the king! For judgment is coming against you all. You have been a snare at Mizpah and a net spread over 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 The rebels stand deep in slaughter, but I will punish all of them.

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

3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me. Ephraim, now you have become like a prostitute; 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 Their deeds will not allow them to turn to God, for the mind of adultery is in them, and they do not know Yahweh.

Their deeds won’t allow them to turn to their God, for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they don’t know Yahweh.

5 The pride of Israel testifies against him; so Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their guilt; and Judah also will stumble 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6 They will go with their flocks and herds to seek Yahweh, but they will not find him, for he has withdrawn himself from them.

They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Yahweh, but they won’t find him. He has withdrawn himself from them.

7 They were unfaithful to Yahweh, for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon festivals will devour them with their fields.

They are unfaithful to Yahweh; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields.

8 Blow the horn in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah. Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven: 'We will follow you, Benjamin!'

“Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin!

9 Ephraim will become a desolation on the day of punishment. Among the tribes of Israel I have declared what is certain to happen.

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 leaders of Judah are like those who move a boundary stone. I will pour my wrath on 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 crushed; he is crushed in judgment, because he has willingly walked after idols.

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

12 So I will be like a moth to Ephraim, and like rot to the house of Judah.

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 Ephraim went to Assyria, and Judah sent messengers to the great king. But he was not able to cure you people or heal 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 So I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry them off, and there will be no one to rescue them.

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, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, until they earnestly seek me in their distress.”

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.”