Hosea 5

1Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.

2And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.footnote afootnote b

3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

4They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.footnote cfootnote d

5And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.

6They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.

7They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

8Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Beth-aven, after thee, O Benjamin.

9Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.

10The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

11Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

12Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.footnote e

13When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.footnote f

14For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

15I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.footnote g

Judgment on Israel and Judah

1“Hear this, O priests!Take heed, O house of Israel!Give ear, O royal house!For this judgment is against youbecause you have been a snare at Mizpah,a net spread out on Tabor. 2The rebels are deep in slaughter;but I will chastise them all. 3I know all about Ephraim,footnote aand Israel is not hidden from Me.For now, O Ephraim,you have turned to prostitution;Israel is defiled.

4Their deeds do not permit themto return to their God,for a spirit of prostitution is within them,and they do not know the LORD. 5Israel’s arrogance testifies against them;Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;even Judah stumbles with them. 6They go with their flocks and herdsto seek the LORD,but they do not find Him;He has withdrawn Himself from them. 7They have been unfaithful to the LORD;for they have borne illegitimate children.Now the New Moonfootnote bwill devour themalong with their land.

8Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah,the trumpet in Ramah;raise the battle cry in Beth-aven:footnote cLead on, O Benjamin! 9Ephraim will be laid wasteon the day of rebuke.Among the tribes of IsraelI proclaim what is certain. 10The princes of Judahare like those who move boundary stones;footnote dI will pour out My furyupon them like water. 11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,for he is determined to follow worthless idols.footnote e 12So I am like a moth to Ephraim,and like decay to the house of Judah.

13When Ephraim saw his sicknessand Judah his wound,then Ephraim turned to Assyriaand sent to the great king.footnote fBut he cannot cure youor heal your wound. 14For I am like a lion to Ephraimand like a young lion to the house of Judah.I, even I, will tear them to piecesand then go away.I will carry them offwhere no one can rescue them. 15Then I will return to My placeuntil they admit their guilt and seek My face;in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”