Hosea 5

Chapter 5

The Failure of Israel’s Leaders

1 “Hear this, you priests.
Pay attention, you leaders of Israel.
Listen, you members of the royal family.
Judgment has been handed down against you.
For you have led the people into a snare
by worshiping the idols at Mizpah and Tabor.2 You have dug a deep pit to trap them at Acacia Grove.t
But I will settle with you for what you have done.3 I know what you are like, O Ephraim.
You cannot hide yourself from me, O Israel.
You have left me as a prostitute leaves her husband;
you are utterly defiled.4 Your deeds won’t let you return to your God.
You are a prostitute through and through,
and you do not know the LORD.5 “The arrogance of Israel testifies against her;
Israel and Ephraim will stumble under their load of guilt.
Judah, too, will fall with them.6 When they come with their flocks and herds
to offer sacrifices to the LORD,
they will not find him,
because he has withdrawn from them.7 They have betrayed the honor of the LORD,
bearing children that are not his.
Now their false religion will devour them
along with their wealth.t8 “Sound the alarm in Gibeah!
Blow the trumpet in Ramah!
Raise the battle cry in Beth-avent!
Lead on into battle, O warriors of Benjamin!9 One thing is certain, Israelt:
On your day of punishment,
you will become a heap of rubble.10 “The leaders of Judah have become like thieves.t
So I will pour my anger on them like a waterfall.11 The people of Israel will be crushed and broken by my judgment
because they are determined to worship idols.t12 I will destroy Israel as a moth consumes wool.
I will make Judah as weak as rotten wood.13 “When Israel and Judah saw how sick they were,
Israel turned to Assyria—
to the great king there—
but he could neither help nor cure them.14 I will be like a lion to Israel,
like a strong young lion to Judah.
I will tear them to pieces!
I will carry them off,
and no one will be left to rescue them.15 Then I will return to my place
until they admit their guilt and turn to me.
For as soon as trouble comes,
they will earnestly search for me.”

HOSEA 5

Israel and Judah //Will Be Judged

The [Lord] said:

1 Listen, you priests!
Pay attention, Israel!t
Listen, you members
of the royal family.
Justice was your duty.
Butt at Mizpah and Mount Tabor
you trapped the people.

2 At the place of worship
you were a treacherous pit, t
and I will punish you.

3 Israel, I know all about you,
and because of your unfaithfulness,
I find you unacceptable.

4 Your evil deeds are the reason
you won't return to me,
your [Lord] God.
And your constant craving for sex
keeps you from knowing me.

5 Israel, your pride
testifies to your guilt;
it makes you stumble,
and Judah stumbles too.

6 You offer sheep and cattle
as sacrifices to me,
but I have turned away
and refuse to be found.

7 You have been unfaithful
to me, your [Lord];
you have had children
by prostitutes.t
So at the New Moon Festival,
you and your crops
will be destroyed.t

The [Lord] Warns //Israel and Judah

8 Give a warning on the trumpet!
Let it be heard in Gibeah,
Ramah, and sinful Bethel.t
Benjamin, watch out!t

9 I, the [Lord], will punish
and wipe out Israel.
This is my solemn promise
to every tribe of Israel.

10 Judah's leaders are like crooks
who move boundary markers;
that's why I will flood them
with my anger.

11 Israel was brutally crushed.
They got what they deserved
for worshiping useless idols.t

12 Now I, the [Lord],
will fill Israel with maggots
and make Judah rot.

13 When Israel and Judah saw
their sickness and wounds,
Israel asked help from Assyria
and its mighty king.t
But the king cannot cure them
or heal their wounds.

14 So I'll become a fierce lion
attacking Israel and Judah.
I'll snatch and carry off
what I want,
and no one can stop me.

15 Then I'll return to my temple
until they confess their guilt
and worship me,
until they are desperate
and beg for my help.