1Listen to this, O priests! Listen, O house of Israel, and give ear, O house of the king! For the judgment is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor.
2The rebels are deeply involved in slaughter, but I will discipline all of them.
3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me. O Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution. Israel has defiled itself.
4Their deeds will not allow them to return to their God. For the spirit of prostitution is inside them, and they do not know Yahweh.
5The pride of Israel testifies to his face; therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them.
6They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Yahweh, but they will not find him. He has withdrawn himself from them.
7They are unfaithful to Yahweh, for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields.
8Blow the shofar in Gibeah and the trumpet in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth-aven! Behind you, Benjamin!
9Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel, I have made known what will surely be.
10The officials of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water.
11Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment, because he is determined to pursue worthless idols.
12Therefore I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like rot to the house of Judah.
13When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to the great king; but he is not able to heal you, nor can he cure you of your wound.
14For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear them in pieces and go away. I will carry them off, and there will be no one to rescue them.
15I will depart and return to my place until they acknowledge their offense and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.”
REV Bible
