Hosea

Hosea, chapter 5, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 5 New English Translation

Announcement of Sin and Judgment

   1 Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen closely, O king! For judgment is about to overtake you! For you were like a trap to Mizpah, like a net spread out to catch Tabor.
   2 Those who revolt are knee-deep in slaughter, but I will discipline them all.
   3 I know Ephraim all too well; the evil of Israel is not hidden from me. For you have engaged in prostitution, O Ephraim; Israel has defiled itself.
   4 Their wicked deeds do not allow them to return to their God; because a spirit of idolatry controls their heart, and they do not acknowledge the LORD.
   5 The arrogance of Israel testifies against it; Israel and Ephraim will be overthrown because of their iniquity. Even Judah will be brought down with them.

The Futility of Sacrificial Ritual without Moral Obedience

   6 Although they bring their flocks and herds to seek the favor of the LORD, They will not find him - he has withdrawn himself from them!
   7 They have committed treason against the LORD, because they bore illegitimate children. Soon the new moon festival will devour them and their fields.

The Prophet's Declaration of Judgment

   8 Blow the ram's horn in Gibeah! Sound the trumpet in Ramah! Sound the alarm in Beth Aven! Tremble in fear, O Benjamin!
   9 Ephraim will be ruined in the day of judgment! What I am declaring to the tribes of Israel will certainly take place!

The Oppressors of the Helpless Will Be Oppressed

   10 The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers. I will pour out my rage on them like a torrential flood!
   11 Ephraim will be oppressed, crushed under judgment, because he was determined to pursue worthless idols.

The Curse of the Incurable Wound

   12 I will be like a moth to Ephraim, like wood rot to the house of Judah.
   13 When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah saw his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and begged its great king for help. But he will not be able to heal you! He cannot cure your wound!

The Lion Will Carry Israel Off Into Exile

   14 I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear them to pieces, then I will carry them off, and no one will be able to rescue them!
   15 Then I will return again to my lair until they have suffered their punishment. Then they will seek me; in their distress they will earnestly seek me.

King James Version

   1 Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.
   2 And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.
   3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.
   4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.
   5 And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.
   6 They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.
   7 They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.
   8 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Beth-aven, after thee, O Benjamin.
   9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.
   10 The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.
   11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.
   12 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.
   13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
   14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
   15 ¶ I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.