Hosea 5 - Easy To Read Version

¹ “Priests, nation of Israel, and people in the king’s family, listen to me. You have been judged guilty!

² You have done many, many bad things. {\cf2\super [52]} So I will punish you all!

³ I know Ephraim. {\cf2\super [53]} I know the things that Israel has done. Ephraim, right now you act like a prostitute {\cf2\super [54]} . Israel is dirty with sins.

⁴ The people of Israel have done many bad things. And those bad things keep them from coming back to their God. They are always thinking of ways to chase after other gods. They don’t know the Lord.

⁵ Israel’s pride is a witness against them. {\cf2\super [55]} So Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their sin. But Judah will also stumble with them.

⁶ “The leaders of the people went to look for the Lord. They took their ‘sheep’ and ‘cows’ with them. But they did not find the Lord. Why? Because he left them.

⁷ They have not been faithful to the Lord. Their children are from some stranger. And now, he will destroy them and their land again.” {\cf2\super [56]}

⁸ “Blow the horn in Gibeah. {\cf2\super [57]} \par Blow the trumpet in Ramah. {\cf2\super [58]} \par Give the warning at Beth-Aven. {\cf2\super [59]} \par The enemy is behind you, Benjamin.\par

⁹ Ephraim {\cf2\super [60]} will become empty\par at the time of punishment.\par I (God) warn the families of Israel\par that those things really will happen.\par

¹⁰ The leaders of Judah are like thieves\par trying to steal another man’s property.\par So I (God) will pour out my anger\par on them like water.\par

¹¹ Ephraim {\cf2\super [61]} will be punished.\par He will be crushed and pressed like grapes.\par Why? Because he decided to follow filth.\par

¹² I will destroy Ephraim,\par like a moth destroys a piece of cloth.\par I \{will destroy\} Judah,\par like rot \{destroys a piece of wood\}.\par

¹³ Ephraim saw his sickness,\par and Judah saw his wound.\par So they went to Assyria for help.\par They told their problems to the great king.\par But that king can’t heal you.\par He can’t cure your wound.\par

¹⁴ Why? Because I will be like a lion to Ephraim.\par I will be like a young lion\par to the nation {\cf2\super [62]} of Judah.\par I—yes, I (the Lord)—will rip them to pieces.\par I will carry them away,\par And no person can save.\par

¹⁵ I will go back to my place,\par until the people admit they are guilty,\par until they come looking for me.\par Yes, in their trouble they will try hard\par to find me.”\par