Judgment on Israel and Judah

1“Hear this, O priests!

Take heed, O house of Israel (he wrestles with God)!

Give ear, O royal house!

For this judgment is against you⁺

because you⁺ have been a snare at Mizpah (watchtower),

a net spread out on Tabor (mound).

2The rebels are deep in slaughter;

but I will chastise them all.

3I know all about Ephraim (the northern kingdom of Israel),a

and Israel (he wrestles with God) is not hidden from Me.

For now, O Ephraim (doubly fruitful),

you have turned to prostitution;

Israel is defiled.

4Their deeds do not permit them

to return to their God {Elohehem},

for a spirit {ruach} of prostitution is within them,

and they do not know the LORD {YHWH}.

5Israel’s (he wrestles with God) arrogance testifies against them;

Israel and Ephraim (doubly fruitful) stumble in their iniquity;

even Judah (praised) stumbles with them.

6They go with their flocks and herds

to seek the LORD {YHWH},

but they do not find Him;

He has withdrawn Himself from them.

7They have been unfaithful to the LORD {YHWH};

for they have borne illegitimate children.

Now the New Moon (their New Moon feast)b will devour them

along with their land.

8Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah (hill),

the trumpet in Ramah;

raise the battle cry in Beth-aven (house of wickedness):c

Lead on, O Benjamin (son of the right hand)!

9Ephraim (doubly fruitful) will be laid waste

on the day of rebuke.

Among the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God)

I proclaim what is certain.

10The princes of Judah (praised)

are like those who move boundary stones <Pro 22:28, Pro 23:10>;d

I will pour out My fury

upon them like water.

11Ephraim (doubly fruitful) is oppressed, crushed in judgment,

for he is determined to follow worthless idols (to follow human precepts).e

12So I am like a moth to Ephraim (doubly fruitful),

and like decay to the house of Judah (praised).

13When Ephraim (doubly fruitful) saw his sickness

and Judah (praised) his wound,

then Ephraim turned to Assyria (a step)

and sent to the great (contender) king (to King Jareb).f

But he cannot cure you⁺

or heal your⁺ wound.

14For I am like a lion to Ephraim (doubly fruitful)

and like a young lion to the house of Judah (praised).

I, even I, will tear them to pieces

and then go away.

I will carry them off

where no one can rescue them.

15Then I will return to My place

until they admit their guilt and seek My face;

in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”