1 Hear this, priests!  *

Pay attention, house of Israel!

Listen, royal house!

For the judgment 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he has withdrawn from them.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 judgment,  *

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 sickness

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 recognize their guilt and seek my face;  *

they will search for me in their distress.  *