1Hear this, you priests. Listen, house of Israel. Pay attention, house of the king. For judgment is coming to you, because you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread out on Tabor.
2The rebels are deep in slaughter, though I have rebuked them all.
3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me. For now, Ephraim, you are unfaithful like a prostitute, and Israel is defiled.
4They will not change what they do and turn to their God. For the spirit of prostitution is among them, and they have not known the LORD.
5The pride of Israel speaks against him to his face. So Israel and Ephraim will fall in their sin. Judah will fall with them too.
6They will go with their flocks and their herds to look for the LORD, but they will not find him. He has withdrawn himself from them.
7They have been treacherous against the LORD, for they have fathered strange children. Now a month will devour them along with their fields.
9Ephraim will be a waste in the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel I have made known what will surely happen.
10The princes of Judah were like those who move the boundary stones. So I will pour out my anger on them like water.
11Ephraim is crushed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.
13When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then Ephraim went to the Assyrian and sent to king Jareb. Yet he could not heal you, or cure you of your wound.
14For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away. I will carry them off, and no one will rescue them.
15I will go and return to my place, until they admit their offence and seek my face. In their trouble they will seek me early.