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Hoseachapter 5

15 verses · Hosea · 755 to 715 BC · The Twelve

The line breaks below follow the poem's own punctuation. The section titles are this site's own.

A.A snare at Mizpah and a net spread on Taborvv. 1-7

“Hear this, O priests!Take heed, O house of Israel!Give ear, O royal house! For this judgment is against you because you have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.

The rebels are deep in slaughter; but I will chastise them all.

I know all about Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me.For now, O Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution;Israel is defiled.

Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God, for a spirit of prostitution is within them, and they do not know the LORD.

Israel’s arrogance testifies against them;Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; even Judah stumbles with them.

They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him;He has withdrawn Himself from them.

They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children.Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land.

B.Blow the trumpet: I will be like a moth to Ephraimvv. 8-12

Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven:Lead on, O Benjamin!

Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of rebuke.Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.

The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary stones;I will pour out My fury upon them like water.

Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.

So I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like decay to the house of Judah.

C.They ran to Assyria, who could not heal their woundvv. 13-15

When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king.But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.

For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah.I, even I, will tear them to pieces and then go away.I will carry them off where no one can rescue them.

Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”

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