5 Hear this, priests! a

Pay attention, house of Israel!

Listen, royal house!

For the judgment applies to you

because you have been a snare at Mizpah b

and a net spread out on Tabor.

2 Rebels c are deeply involved in slaughter; d

I will be a punishment for all of them. e

3 I know Ephraim, f

and Israel is not hidden from Me.

For now, Ephraim, g

you have acted promiscuously;

Israel is defiled.

4 Their actions do not allow them

to return to their God, h

for a spirit of promiscuity is among them, i

and they do not know the Lord. j

5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them. k l

Both Israel and Ephraim stumble

because of their wickedness; m

even Judah will stumble with them. n

6 They go with their flocks and herds

to seek the Lord o

but do not find Him; p

He has withdrawn from them. q

7 They betrayed the Lord; r

indeed, they gave birth to illegitimate children. s

Now the New Moon t will devour them

along with their fields. u

8 Blow the horn in Gibeah, v

the trumpet in Ramah; w

raise the war cry in Beth-aven: x

After you, Benjamin! y

9 Ephraim will become a desolation z

on the day of punishment; a

I announce what is certain

among the tribes of Israel. b

10 The princes of Judah are like those

who move boundary markers; c

I will pour out My fury d on them like water. e

11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, f

for he is determined to follow what is worthless. g

12 So I am like rot to Ephraim h

and like decay to the house of Judah.

13 When Ephraim saw his sickness

and Judah his wound,

Ephraim went to Assyria i

and sent a delegation to the great king. j k

But he cannot cure you or heal your wound. l

14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim m

and like a young lion to the house of Judah.

Yes, I will tear them to pieces and depart. n

I will carry them off,

and no one can rescue them. o

15 I will depart and return to My place

until they recognize their * guilt and seek My face; p

they will search for Me in their distress. q