1Hear this, priests!a

Pay attention, house of Israel!

Listen, royal house!

For the judgment applies to you

because you have been a snare at Mizpahb

and a net spread out on Tabor.

2Rebelsa are deeply involved in slaughter;b

I will be a punishment for all of them.A

3I know Ephraim,a

and Israel is not hidden from me.

For now, Ephraim,b

you have acted promiscuously;

Israel is defiled.

4Their actions do not allow them

to return to their God,a

for a spirit of promiscuity is among them,b

and they do not know the Lord.c

5Israel’s arrogance testifies against them.a a

Both Israel and Ephraim stumble

because of their iniquity;b

even Judah will stumble with them.c

6They go with their flocks and herds

to seek the Lorda

but do not find him;b

he has withdrawn from them.c

7They betrayed the Lord;a

indeed, they gave birth to illegitimate children.b

Now the New Moonc will devour them

along with their fields.d

8Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah,a

the trumpet in Ramah;b

raise the war cry in Beth-aven:c

Look behind you,A Benjamin!d

9Ephraim will become a desolationa

on the day of punishment;b

I announce what is certain

among the tribes of Israel.c

10The princes of Judah are like those

who move boundary markers;a

I will pour out my furyb on them like water.c

11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,a

for he is determined to follow what is worthless.A

12So I am like rot to Ephraima

and like decay to the house of Judah.

13When Ephraim saw his sickness

and Judah his wound,

Ephraim went to Assyriaa

and sent a delegation to the great king.a b

But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.c

14For I am like a lion to Ephraima

and like a young lion to the house of Judah.

Yes, I will tear them to pieces and depart.b

I will carry them off,

and no one can rescue them.c

15I will depart and return to my place

until they recognize their guilt and seek my face;a

they will search for me in their distress.b