Osee 5

1 Hear these things, you priests; and attend, O house of Israel; and listen, O house of the king; for the controversy is with you, because you have been a snare in Scopia, and as a net spread on Itabyrium,

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

2 which they that hunt the prey have fixed: but I will correct you.

And the apostates are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.

3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not far from me: for now Ephraim has gone grievously a-whoring, Israel is defiled.

I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, you commit whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

4 They have not framed their counsels to return to their God, for the spirit of fornication is in them, and they have not known the Lord.

They 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.

5 And the pride of Israel shall be brought low before his face; and Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquities; and Judas also shall fall with them.

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

6 They shall go with sheep and calves diligently to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him, for he has withdrawn himself from them.

They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.

7 For they have forsaken the Lord; for strange children have been born to them: now shall the cankerworm devour them and their heritages.

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

8 Blow you the trumpet on the hills, sound aloud on the heights: proclaim in the house of On, Benjamin is amazed.

Blow all of you the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after you, O Benjamin.

9 Ephraim has come to nothing in the days of reproof: in the tribes of Israel I have shown faithful [dealings].

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

10 The princes of Juda became as they that removed the bounds: I will pour out upon them my fury as water.

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

11 Ephraim altogether prevailed against his adversary, he trod judgement under foot, for he began to go after vanities.

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

12 Therefore I [will be] as consternation to Ephraim, and as a goad to the house of Juda.

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

13 And Ephraim saw his disease, and Judas his pain; then Ephraim went to the Assyrians, and sent ambassadors to king Jarim: but he could not heal you, and your pain shall in nowise cease from you.

When 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.

14 Therefore I am as a panther to Ephraim, and as a lion to the house of Juda: and I will tear, and go away; and I will take, and there shall be none to deliver.

For 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.

15 I will go and return to my place, until they are brought to nothing, and [then] shall they seek my face.

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