Isten to this, you priests and all of Israel’s leaders; listen, all you men of the royal family: You are doomed! For you have deluded the people with idols at Mizpah and Tabor,
2 And dug a deep pit to trap them at Acacia. But never forget-I will settle up with all of you for what you’ve done.
3 I have seen your evil deeds: Israel, you have left Me as an harlot does her husband; you are utterly defiled.
4 Your deeds won’t let you come to God again; for the spirit of adultery is deep within you, and you cannot know the Lord.
5 The very arrogance of Israel testifies against her in My court. She will stumble under her load of guilt, and Judah, too, shall fall.
6 Then at last, they will come with their flocks and herds to sacrifice to God, but it will be too late-they will not find Him. He has withdrawn from them and they are left alone.
7 For they have betrayed the honour of the Lord, bearing children that aren’t His. Suddenly they and all their wealth will disappear.
8 Sound the alarm! Warn with trumpet blasts in Gibeah and Ramah, and on over to Bethaven; tremble, land of Benjamin!
9 Hear this announcement, Israel: When your day of punishment comes, you will become a heap of rubble.
10 The leaders of Judah have become the lowest sort of thieves. Therefore, I will pour My anger down upon them like a waterfall;
11 And Ephraim will be crushed and broken by My sentence because she is determined to follow idols.
12 I will destroy her as a moth does wool; I will sap away the strength of Judah like dry rot.
13 When Ephraim and Judah see how sick they are, Ephraim will turn to Assyria, to the great king there; but he can neither help nor cure.
14 I will tear Ephraim and Judah as a lion rips apart its prey; I will carry them off and chase all rescuers away. 15 I will abandon them and return to My home until they admit their guilt and look to Me for help again; for as soon as trouble comes, they will search for Me and say
