Hosea 5

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

Hear this, priests! Attend, Israelites! Listen, royal family! For you is the judgment: a snare you have become at Mizpeh, and a net spread out on Tabor,

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

the rebels are deep in slaughter, but I will discipline all.

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

I know Ephraim, Israel is not hidden from me, for you, Ephraim, have committed prostitution and Israel is defiled.

4 Their deeds won’t allow them to turn to their God, for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they don’t know the LORD.

Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of prostitution is within them, they do not know the Lord.

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

Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, Israel, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin, and Judah also stumbles with them.

6 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 He has withdrawn himself from them.

With their sheep and their cattle they will go to seek the Lord but they will not find him, he has withdrawn from them,

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

for they have been untrue to the Lord, their children are strangers. Their new moon festivals will soon destroy them and their fields.

8 “Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the shofar in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin!

Blow the trumpet in Gibeah, the clarion in Ramah! Raise the alarm in Beth-aven: we are with you, Benjamin!

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

Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of punishment, concerning the tribes of Israel I make known what is certain.

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

The princes of Israel have become like thieves who move boundary stones. On them I will pour out my wrath like a flood.

11 Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgement, because he is intent in his pursuit of idols.

Ephraim will be oppressed, crushed by judgment, for they are determined to go after vanity.

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

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

13 “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.

For when Ephraim saw their sickness and Israel their wound, Ephraim turned to Assyria, to its patron king. But he cannot heal you nor relieve you of your wound.

14 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.

For I myself will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, yes I, will rend and go my way, I will carry off and none will rescue.

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

I will return to my place, until in remorse they seek my presence. When they are in distress they will quickly seek me,