Hosea 5

Impending Judgment on Israel and Judah

1 “Hear this, O priests!

Take heed, O house of Israel!

Give ear, O house of the king!

For yours is the judgment,

Because you have been a snare to Mizpah

And a net spread on Tabor.

2 The revolters are deeply involved in slaughter,

Though I rebuke them all.

3 I know Ephraim,

And Israel is not hidden from Me;

For now, O Ephraim, you commit harlotry;

Israel is defiled.

4 “They do not direct their deeds

Toward turning to their God,

For the spirit of harlotry is in their midst,

And they do not know the Lord.

5 The pride of Israel testifies to his face;

Therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;

Judah also stumbles with them.

6 “With their flocks and herds

They shall go to seek the Lord,

But they will not find Him;

He has withdrawn Himself from them.

7 They have dealt treacherously with the Lord,

For they have begotten pagan children.

Now a New Moon shall devour them and their heritage.

8 “Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah,

The trumpet in Ramah!

Cry aloud at Beth Aven,

‘Look behind you, O Benjamin!’

9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke;

Among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure.

10 “The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark;

I will pour out My wrath on them like water.

11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment,

Because he willingly walked by human precept.

12 Therefore I will be to Ephraim like a moth,

And to the house of Judah like rottenness.

13 “When Ephraim saw his sickness,

And Judah saw his wound,

Then Ephraim went to Assyria

And sent to King Jareb;

Yet he cannot cure you,

Nor heal you of your wound.

14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,

And like a young lion to the house of Judah.

I, even I, will tear them and go away;

I will take them away, and no one shall rescue.

15 I will return again to My place

Till they acknowledge their offense.

Then they will seek My face;

In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”