1‘Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, royal house! This judgment is against you: you have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.2The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter. I will discipline all of them.3I know all about Ephraim; Israel is not hidden from me. Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution; Israel is corrupt.4‘Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the Lord.5Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them.6When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.7They are unfaithful to the Lord; they give birth to illegitimate children. When they celebrate their New Moon feasts, he will devour[1] their fields.8‘Sound the trumpet in Gibeah, the horn in Ramah. Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven[2]; lead on, Benjamin.9Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.10Judah’s leaders are like those who move boundary stones. I will pour out my wrath on them like a flood of water.11Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent on pursuing idols.[3]12I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of Judah.13‘When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores.14For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no-one to rescue them.15Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face – in their misery they will earnestly seek me.’
Hosea 5
English Standard Version
Punishment Coming for Israel and Judah
1Hear this, O priests! Pay attention, O house of Israel! Give ear, O house of the king! For the judgment is for you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah and a net spread upon Tabor. (Jud 4:6; Ho 4:1; Ho 6:9; Ho 9:8; Joe 1:2; Am 3:1; Mic 1:2)2And the revolters have gone deep into slaughter, but I will discipline all of them. (Ps 50:21; Isa 29:15; Ho 9:9; Ho 9:15)3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, O Ephraim, you have played the whore; Israel is defiled. (Am 3:2; Am 5:12)4Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the Lord. (Isa 59:2; Ho 4:12)5The pride of Israel testifies to his face;[1] Israel and Ephraim shall stumble in his guilt; Judah also shall stumble with them. (Ho 6:4; Ho 7:10)6With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the Lord, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them. (Isa 1:11; Ho 6:6; Ho 9:12)7They have dealt faithlessly with the Lord; for they have borne alien children. Now the new moon shall devour them with their fields. (Ho 6:7)8Blow the horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah. Sound the alarm at Beth-aven; we follow you,[2] O Benjamin! (Jos 18:25; Jer 4:5; Ho 4:15; Ho 8:1; Ho 9:9; Ho 10:9)9Ephraim shall become a desolation in the day of punishment; among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure.10The princes of Judah have become like those who move the landmark; upon them I will pour out my wrath like water. (De 19:14)11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because he was determined to go after filth.[3] (De 28:33; Am 4:1)12But I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like dry rot to the house of Judah. (Job 13:28)13When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to the great king.[4] But he is not able to cure you or heal your wound. (2Ki 15:19; Isa 1:5; Ho 7:11; Ho 8:9; Ho 12:1; Ho 14:3)14For 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 off, and no one shall rescue. (Ho 6:4; Ho 13:7; Mic 5:8)15I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me. (Le 26:40; Isa 26:16; Jer 29:10; Eze 6:9)