Judgment on Israel and Judah
1“Hearthis,O priests!
Take heed,O houseof Israel!
Give ear,O royalhouse!
Forthis judgmentis against you
becauseyou have beena snareat Mizpah,
a netspread outonTabor.
2The rebelsare deepin slaughter;
but Iwill chastise themall.
3Iknow all aboutEphraim,
and Israelis nothiddenfrom Me.
Fornow,O Ephraim,
you have turned to prostitution;
Israelis defiled.
4Their deedsdo notpermit them
to returntotheir God,
fora spiritof prostitutionis within them,
and they do notknowthe LORD.
5Israel’sarrogancetestifiesagainst them;
Israeland Ephraimstumblein their iniquity;
evenJudahstumbleswith them.
6They gowith their flocksand herds
to seekthe LORD,
but they do notfind Him;
He has withdrawn Himselffrom them.
7They have been unfaithfulto the LORD;
forthey have borneillegitimatechildren.
Nowthe New Moonwill devour them
along with their land.
8Blowthe ram’s hornin Gibeah,
the trumpetin Ramah;
raise the battle cryin Beth-aven:
Lead on,O Benjamin!
9Ephraimwill belaid waste
on the dayof rebuke.
Among the tribesof Israel
I proclaimwhat is certain.
10The princesof Judah
are like thosewho moveboundary stones;
I will pour outMy fury
upon themlike water.
11Ephraimis oppressed,crushedin judgment,
forhe is determinedto followworthless idols.
12So I amlike a mothto Ephraim,
and like decayto the houseof Judah.
13When Ephraimsawhis sickness
and Judahhis wound,
then EphraimturnedtoAssyria
and senttothe greatking.
But hecannotcureyou
orhealyour wound.
14ForIam like a lionto Ephraim
and like a young lionto the houseof Judah.
I,even I,will tear them to pieces
and then go away.
I will carry them off
where no onecan rescue them.
15Then I will returntoMy place
untilthey admit their guiltand seekMy face;
in their afflictionthey will earnestly seek Me.”
