Chapter 5

Israel shall fall because of their iniquities, God will return when they confess their offense


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 He hath withdrawn himself from them.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 offense and seek my face; in their affliction they will seek me early.