God's Judgment on Israel and Judah

1Hear 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.

2And you have turned aside victims into the depth: and I am, the teacher of them all.

3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now Ephraim hath committed fornication, Israel is defiled.

4They 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.

5And the pride of Israel shall answer in his face: and Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity, Juda also shall fall with them.

6With their flocks, and with their herds, they shall go to seek the Lord, and shall not find him: he is withdrawn from them.

7They have transgressed against the Lord, for they have begotten children that are strangers: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

8Blow ye the cornet in Gabaa, the trumpet in Rama: howl ye in Bethaven, behind thy back, O Benjamin.

9Ephraim shall be in desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel I have shewn that which shall surely be.

10The princes of Juda are become as they that take up the bound: I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

11Ephraim is under oppression, and broken in judgment: because he began to go after filthiness.

12And I will be like a moth to Ephraim: and like rottenness to the house of Juda.

13And 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.

14For 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.

15I will go and return to my place: until you are consumed, and seek my face.