God's Judgment on Israel and Judah

1Hear this, ye priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ear, O house of the king: for this judgment is for you; for ye have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.

2And they have plunged themselves in the corruption of apostasy, but I will be a chastiser of them all.

3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me; for now, Ephraim, thou hast committed whoredom; Israel is defiled.

4Their doings do not allow them to return unto their God; for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they know not Jehovah.

5And Israel's pride doth testify to his face; and Israel and Ephraim shall fall by their iniquity: Judah also shall fall with them.

6They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Jehovah; but they shall not find [him]: he hath withdrawn himself from them.

7They have dealt treacherously against Jehovah; for they have begotten strange children: now shall the new moon devour them, with their allotted possessions.

8Blow the horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; cry aloud [at] Beth-aven: behind thee, O Benjamin!

9Ephraim shall be a desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which is sure.

10The princes of Judah are become like them that remove the landmark: I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because in selfwill he walked after the commandment [of man].

12And I will be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.

13When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sore, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb; but he was unable to heal you, nor hath he removed your sore.

14For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah. I, I will tear and go away; I will carry off, and there shall be none to deliver.

15I will go away, I will return to my place, till they acknowledge their trespass, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.