Hosea 5

1 Hear this, priests!  * 5:1 Hs 4:1

Pay attention, house of Israel!

Listen, royal house!

For the judgment applies to you

because you have been a snare at Mizpah  * 5:1 Hs 9:8

and a net spread out on Tabor.

2 Rebels  * 5:2 Hs 9:15 are deeply involved in slaughter;  * 5:2 Hs 4:2; 6:9

I will be a punishment for all of them.  * 5:2 Hb obscure

3 I know Ephraim,  * 5:3 Hs 6:4; 7:1; Am 3:2; 5:12

and Israel is not hidden from me.

For now, Ephraim,  * 5:3 Hs 6:10

you have acted promiscuously;

Israel is defiled.

4 Their actions do not allow them

to return to their God,  * 5:4 Hs 4:11

for a spirit of promiscuity is among them,  * 5:4 Hs 4:12

and they do not know the  Lord.  * 5:4 Hs 4:6,11,14

5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them.  * 5:5 Lit against his face,* 5:5 Hs 7:10

Both Israel and Ephraim stumble

because of their iniquity;  * 5:5 Hs 4:5

even Judah will stumble with them.  * 5:5 Ezk 23:31–35

6 They go with their flocks and herds

to seek the  Lord* 5:6 Hs 8:13; Mc 6:6–7

but do not find him;  * 5:6 Is 1:15; Jr 14:12

he has withdrawn from them.  * 5:6 Ezk 8:6

7 They betrayed the  Lord;  * 5:7 Is 48:8; Hs 6:7

indeed, they gave birth to illegitimate children.  * 5:7 Hs 2:4

Now the New Moon  * 5:7 Hs 2:11 will devour them

along with their fields.  * 5:7 Is 1:14

8 Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah,  * 5:8 Hs 9:9; 10:9

the trumpet in Ramah;  * 5:8 Is 10:29; Jr 31:15

raise the war cry in Beth-aven:  * 5:8 Hs 4:15

Look behind you,  * 5:8 Or We will follow you Benjamin!  * 5:8 Jdg 5:14

9 Ephraim will become a desolation  * 5:9 Is 28:1–4; Hs 9:11–17

on the day of punishment;  * 5:9 Is 37:3

I announce what is certain

among the tribes of Israel.  * 5:9 Is 46:10; Zch 1:6

10 The princes of Judah are like those

who move boundary markers;  * 5:10 Dt 27:17

I will pour out my fury  * 5:10 Ezk 7:8 on them like water.  * 5:10 Ps 32:6; 93:3–4

11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,  * 5:11 Hs 9:16

for he is determined to follow what is worthless.  * 5:11 Or follow a command; Hb obscure

12 So I am like rot to Ephraim  * 5:12 Ps 39:11; Is 51:8

and like decay to the house of Judah.

13 When Ephraim saw his sickness

and Judah his wound,

Ephraim went to Assyria  * 5:13 Hs 7:11; 8:9; 12:1

and sent a delegation to the great king.  * 5:13 Or to King Yareb,* 5:13 Hs 10:6

But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.  * 5:13 Hs 14:3

14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim  * 5:14 Ps 7:2; Hs 13:7; Am 3:4

and like a young lion to the house of Judah.

Yes, I will tear them to pieces and depart.  * 5:14 Ps 50:22

I will carry them off,

and no one can rescue them.  * 5:14 Mc 5:8

15 I will depart and return to my place

until they recognize their guilt and seek my face;  * 5:15 Is 64:7–9; Jr 3:13–14

they will search for me in their distress.  * 5:15 Ps 50:15; 78:34; Jr 2:27; Hs 3:5