1 H ear 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.

“Hear this, O religious leaders! Listen, O people of Israel! Listen, O family of the king! For you are to be judged. You have been a trap at Mizpah, and a net spread out on Tabor.

2 A nd the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.

Those who will not obey have gone deep into sin, but I will punish all of them.

3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

I know all about Ephraim. Israel is not hidden from Me. O Ephraim, you have acted like a woman who sells the use of her body. Israel has made itself unclean.

4 T hey 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.

Their wrong-doing will not allow them to return to their God. For a spirit of a woman who sells the use of her body is within them, and they do not know the Lord.

5 A nd the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity: Judah also shall fall with them.

The pride of Israel speaks against them. Israel and Ephraim fall in their sin, and Judah has fallen with them.

6 T hey shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.

They will go with their flocks and cattle to look for the Lord, but they will not find Him. He has gone away from them.

7 T hey have dealt treacherously against the Lord: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

They have not been faithful to the Lord, for they have given birth to children who are not His. Now the new moon will destroy them with their land. War between Judah and Israel

8 B low ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.

“Blow the horn in Gibeah and in Ramah! Let the sound of danger be heard at Beth-aven! Look behind you, Benjamin!

9 E phraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.

Ephraim will be laid waste in the day of punishment. Among the family groups of Israel I make known what is sure.

10 T he princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

The leaders of Judah are like those who take away the land-marks. I will pour out My anger on them like water.

11 E phraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

It is hard for Ephraim. He is crushed by punishment, because he wanted to follow what is of no worth.

12 T herefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.

So I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like a wasting disease to the people of Judah.

13 W hen 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.

When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah saw his sore, then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb for help. But he is not able to cure you, or heal your sore.

14 F or 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.

For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the people of Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away. I will carry them away, with no one to take them.

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.

I will go away and return to My place until they know they are guilty and look for Me. In their suffering they will try to find Me.”