Hosea 5

1 “Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, and give ear, house of the king! For the judgement is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor.

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,

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

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

3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, Ephraim, you have played the prostitute. Israel is defiled.

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

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

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.

5 The pride of Israel testifies to his face. Therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them.

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.

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 He has withdrawn himself from them.

They shall go with sheep and calves diligently to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him, for he has withdrawn himself from them.

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

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

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

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

9 Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Amongst the tribes of Israel, I have made known that which will surely be.

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

10 The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water.

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

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

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

12 Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness.

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

13 “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.

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.

14 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.

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.

15 I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.”

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