1 Hear this, priests! Pay attention, house of Israel! Listen, royal house! For the judgement applies to you because you have been a snare at Mizpah and a net spread out on Tabor. 2 Rebels are deeply involved in slaughter; I will be a punishment for all of them. 3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me. For now, Ephraim, you have acted promiscuously; Israel is defiled. 4 Their actions do not allow them to return to their God, for a spirit of promiscuity is among them, and they do not know the Lord. 5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them. , Both Israel and Ephraim stumble because of their iniquity; even Judah will stumble with them. 6 They go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord but do not find him; he has withdrawn from them. 7 They betrayed the Lord; indeed, they gave birth to illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their fields. 8 Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the war cry in Beth-aven: Look behind you, Benjamin! 9 Ephraim will become a desolation on the day of punishment; I announce what is certain among the tribes of Israel. 10 The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers; I will pour out my fury on them like water. 11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgement, for he is determined to follow what is worthless. 12 So I am like rot to Ephraim and like decay to the house of Judah. 13 When Ephraim saw his disease and Judah his wound, Ephraim went to Assyria and sent a delegation to the great king. , But he cannot cure you or heal your wound. 14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. Yes, I will tear them to pieces and depart. I will carry them off, and no one can rescue them. 15 I will depart and return to my place until they recognise their guilt and seek my face; they will search for me in their distress. |
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