| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1Hear 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. | 1"Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, royal house! This judgment is against you: You have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor. |
| 2Those who revolt are knee-deep in slaughter, but I will discipline them all. | 2The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter. I will discipline all of them. |
| 3I 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. | 3I know all about Ephraim; Israel is not hidden from me. Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution; Israel is corrupt. |
| 4Their 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. | 4"Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD. |
| 5The arrogance of Israel testifies against it; Israel and Ephraim will be overthrown because of their iniquity. Even Judah will be brought down with them. | 5Israel's arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them. |
| 6Although they bring their flocks and herds to seek the favor of the LORD, They will not find him--he has withdrawn himself from them! | 6When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them. |
| 7They have committed treason against the LORD, because they bore illegitimate children. Soon the new moon festival will devour them and their fields. | 7They are unfaithful to the LORD; they give birth to illegitimate children. When they celebrate their New Moon feasts, he will devour their fields. |
| 8Blow the ram's horn in Gibeah! Sound the trumpet in Ramah! Sound the alarm in Beth Aven! Tremble in fear, O Benjamin! | 8"Sound the trumpet in Gibeah, the horn in Ramah. Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven; lead on, Benjamin. |
| 9Ephraim will be ruined in the day of judgment! What I am declaring to the tribes of Israel will certainly take place! | 9Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain. |
| 10The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers. I will pour out my rage on them like a torrential flood! | 10Judah's leaders are like those who move boundary stones. I will pour out my wrath on them like a flood of water. |
| 11Ephraim will be oppressed, crushed under judgment, because he was determined to pursue worthless idols. | 11Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent on pursuing idols. |
| 12I will be like a moth to Ephraim, like wood rot to the house of Judah. | 12I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of Judah. |
| 13When 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! | 13"When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores. |
| 14I 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! | 14For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them. |
| 15Then 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. | 15Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face-- in their misery they will earnestly seek me." |
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