Hosea 5

1 Hear this, priests! Pay attention, house of Israel! Listen, royal house! For the judgment applies to you because you have been a snare at Mizpah and a net spread out on Tabor.
2 Rebels are deeply involved in slaughter; I will be a punishment for all of them.[a]
3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me. For now, Ephraim, you have acted promiscuously; Israel is defiled.
4 Their actions do not allow [them] to return to their God, for a spirit of promiscuity is among them, and they do not know the Lord.
5 Israel's arrogance testifies against them.[b] Both Israel and Ephraim stumble because of their wickedness; even Judah will stumble with them.
6 They go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord but do not find [Him]; He has withdrawn from them.
7 They betrayed the Lord; indeed, they gave birth to illegitimate children. Now the New Moon[c] will devour them along with their fields.
8 Blow the horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the war cry in Beth-aven: After you, Benjamin![d]
9 Ephraim will become a desolation on the day of punishment; I announce what is certain among the tribes of Israel.
10 The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers;[e] I will pour out My fury on them like water.
11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow what is worthless.[f]
12 So I am like rot to Ephraim and like decay to the house of Judah.
13 When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, Ephraim went to Assyria and sent [a delegation] to the great king.[g] But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.
14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. Yes, I will tear [them] to pieces and depart. I will carry [them] off, and no one can rescue [them].
15 I will depart and return to My place until they recognize their guilt and seek My face; they will search for Me in their distress.

Footnotes 7

Hosea 5 Commentaries

Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.