1
Hear ye this, O priests , and hearken , O ye house of Israel , and give ear, O house of the king: for there is a judgment against you, because you have been a snare to them whom you should have watched over, and a net spread upon Thabor.
2
And you have turned aside victims into the depth: and I am, the teacher of them all.
3
I know Ephraim , and Israel is not hid from me: for now Ephraim hath committed fornication , Israel is defiled.
4
They will not set their thoughts to return to their God : for the spirit of fornication is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord .
5
And the pride of Israel shall answer in his face : and Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity , Juda also shall fall with them.
6
With their flocks , and with their herds , they shall go to seek the Lord , and shall not find him: he is withdrawn from them.
7
They have transgressed against the Lord , for they have begotten children that are strangers: now shall a month devour them with their portions.
8
Blow ye the cornet in Gabaa, the trumpet in Rama: howl ye in Bethaven, behind thy back, O Benjamin .
9
Ephraim shall be in desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel I have shewn that which shall surely be.
10
The princes of Juda are become as they that take up the bound: I will pour out my wrath upon them like water .
11
Ephraim is under oppression, and broken in judgment : because he began to go after filthiness.
12
And I will be like a moth to Ephraim : and like rottenness to the house of Juda .
13
And Ephraim saw his sickness , and Juda his band: and Ephraim went to the Assyrian, and sent to the avenging king: and he shall not be able to heal you, neither shall he be able to take off the band from you.
14
For I will be like a lioness to Ephraim , and like a lion's whelp to the house of Juda : I, I will catch, and go : I will take away, and there is none that can rescue.
15
I will go and return to my place : until you are consumed, and seek my face .