1Hear 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.

2Rebels† are deeply involved in slaughter;†

I will be a punishment for all of them.†

3I know Ephraim,†

and Israel is not hidden from me.

For now, Ephraim,†

you have acted promiscuously;

Israel is defiled.

4Their 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.†

5Israel’s arrogance testifies against them.† †

Both Israel and Ephraim stumble

because of their iniquity;†

even Judah will stumble with them.†

6They go with their flocks and herds

to seek the Lord†

but do not find him;†

he has withdrawn from them.†

7They betrayed the Lord;†

indeed, they gave birth to illegitimate children.†

Now the New Moon† will devour them

along with their fields.d

8Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah,†

the trumpet in Ramah;†

raise the war cry in Beth-aven:†

Look behind you,† Benjamin!d

9Ephraim will become a desolation†

on the day of punishment;†

I announce what is certain

among the tribes of Israel.†

10The princes of Judah are like those

who move boundary markers;†

I will pour out my fury† on them like water.†

11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,†

for he is determined to follow what is worthless.†

12So I am like rot to Ephraim†

and like decay to the house of Judah.

13When 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.†

14For 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.†

15I will depart and return to my place

until they recognize their guilt and seek my face;†

they will search for me in their distress.†