1“Hear this, O priests!Take heed, O house of Israel!
Give ear, O royal house!For this judgment is against youbecause you have been a snare at Mizpah,
a net spread out on Tabor.
2The rebels are deep in slaughter;but I will chastise them all.
3I know all about Ephraim,+and Israel is not hidden from Me.For now, O Ephraim,you have turned to prostitution;
Israel is defiled.
4Their deeds do not permit themto return to their God,for a spirit of prostitution is within them,and they do not know the LORD.
5Israel’s arrogance testifies against them;Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;
even Judah stumbles with them.
6They go with their flocks and herdsto seek the LORD,but they do not find Him;He has withdrawn Himself from them.
7They have been unfaithful to the LORD;for they have borne illegitimate children.Now the New Moon+will devour themalong with their land.
8Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah,the trumpet in Ramah;raise the battle cry in Beth-aven:+Lead on, O Benjamin!
9Ephraim will be laid wasteon the day of rebuke.Among the tribes of IsraelI proclaim what is certain.
10The princes of Judahare like those who move boundary stones;+I will pour out My furyupon them like water.
11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,for he is determined to follow worthless idols.+
12So I am like a moth to Ephraim,and like decay to the house of Judah.
13When Ephraim saw his sicknessand Judah his wound,then Ephraim turned to Assyriaand sent to the great king.+But he cannot cure youor heal your wound.
14For I am like a lion to Ephraimand like a young lion to the house of Judah.I, even I, will tear them to piecesand then go away.I will carry them offwhere no one can rescue them.
15Then I will return to My placeuntil they admit their guilt and seek My face;
in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”