Pay attention, house of Israel!
Listen, royal house!
For the judgment applies to you
because you have been a snare at Mizpah a
and a net spread out on Tabor.
2 Rebels b are deeply involved in slaughter; c
I will be a punishment for all of them. Y
3 I know Ephraim, d
and Israel is not hidden from me.
For now, Ephraim, e
you have acted promiscuously;
Israel is defiled.
4 Their actions do not allow them
to return to their God, f
for a spirit of promiscuity is among them, g
and they do not know the LORD. h
5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them. Z,i
Both Israel and Ephraim stumble
because of their iniquity; j
even Judah will stumble with them. k
6 They go with their flocks and herds
to seek the LORD l
but do not find him; m
he has withdrawn from them. n
7 They betrayed the LORD; o
indeed, they gave birth to illegitimate children. p
Now the New Moon q will devour them
along with their fields. r
the trumpet in Ramah; t
raise the war cry in Beth-aven: u
Look behind you, A Benjamin! v
9 Ephraim will become a desolation w
on the day of punishment; x
I announce what is certain
among the tribes of Israel. y
10 The princes of Judah are like those
who move boundary markers; z
I will pour out my fury a on them like water. b
11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, c
for he is determined to follow what is worthless. B
12 So I am like rot to Ephraim d
and like decay to the house of Judah.
13 When Ephraim saw his sickness
and Judah his wound,
Ephraim went to Assyria e
and sent a delegation to the great king. C,f
But he cannot cure you or heal your wound. g
14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim h
and like a young lion to the house of Judah.
Yes, I will tear them to pieces and depart. i
I will carry them off,
and no one can rescue them. j
15 I will depart and return to my place
until they recognize their guilt and seek my face; k
they will search for me in their distress. l