Hosea 5

1 Hear ye this, O priests, and hearken, O ye house of Israel, and give ear, O house of the king: for there is a judgment against you, because you have been a snare to them whom you should have watched over, and a net spread upon Thabor.

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

2 And you have turned aside victims into the depth: and I am, the teacher of them all.

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

3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now Ephraim hath committed fornication, Israel is defiled.

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

4 They will not set their thoughts to return to their God: for the spirit of fornication is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord.

Their deeds won't allow them to turn to their God; for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they do not know the LORD.

5 And the pride of Israel shall answer in his face: and Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity, Juda also shall fall with them.

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

6 With their flocks, and with their herds, they shall go to seek the Lord, and shall not find him: he is withdrawn from them.

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 He has withdrawn himself from them.

7 They have transgressed against the Lord, for they have begotten children that are strangers: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

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

8 Blow ye the cornet in Gabaa, the trumpet in Rama: howl ye in Bethaven, behind thy back, O Benjamin.

"Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah. Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin.

9 Ephraim shall be in desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel I have shewn that which shall surely be.

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

10 The princes of Juda are become as they that take up the bound: I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

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

11 Ephraim is under oppression, and broken in judgment: because he began to go after filthiness.

Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; Because he is intent in his pursuit of idols.

12 And I will be like a moth to Ephraim: and like rottenness to the house of Juda.

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

13 And Ephraim saw his sickness, and Juda his band: and Ephraim went to the Assyrian, and sent to the avenging king: and he shall not be able to heal you, neither shall he be able to take off the band from you.

"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.

14 For I will be like a lioness to Ephraim, and like a lion’s whelp to the house of Juda: I, I will catch, and go: I will take away, and there is none that can rescue.

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.

15 I will go and return to my place: until you are consumed, and seek my face.

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