Judgment on Israel and Judah 1 Brenton Hear these things, ye priests; and attend, O house of Israel; and hearken, O house of the king; for the controversy is with you, because ye have been a snare in Scopia, and as a net spread on Itabyrium, BSB BSB: “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.
2 Brenton which they that hunt the prey have fixed: but I will correct you. BSB BSB: The rebels are deep in slaughter; but I will chastise them all.
3 Brenton I know Ephraim, and Israel is not far from me: for now Ephraim has gone grievously a-whoring, Israel is defiled. BSB BSB: I know all about Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me. For now, O Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution; Israel is defiled.
4 Brenton They have not framed their counsels to return to their God, for the spirit of fornication is in them, and they have not known the Lord. BSB BSB: 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.
5 Brenton And the pride of Israel shall be brought low before his face; and Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquities; and Judas also shall fall with them. BSB BSB: Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; even Judah stumbles with them.
6 Brenton They shall go with sheep and calves diligently to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him, for he has withdrawn himself from them. BSB BSB: They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them.
7 Brenton For they have forsaken the Lord; for strange children have been born to them: now shall the cankerworm devour them and their heritages. BSB BSB: They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land.
8 Brenton Blow ye the trumpet on the hills, sound aloud on the heights: proclaim in the house of On, Benjamin is amazed. BSB BSB: Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin!
9 Brenton Ephraim has come to nought in the days of reproof: in the tribes of Israel I have shown faithful dealings . BSB BSB: Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.
10 Brenton The princes of Juda became as they that removed the bounds: I will pour out upon them my fury as water. BSB BSB: The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary stones; I will pour out My fury upon them like water.
11 Brenton Ephraim altogether prevailed against his adversary, he trod judgment under foot, for he began to go after vanities. BSB BSB: Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.
12 Brenton Therefore I will be as consternation to Ephraim, and as a goad to the house of Juda. BSB BSB: So I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like decay to the house of Judah.
13 Brenton And Ephraim saw his disease, and Judas his pain; then Ephraim went to the Assyrians, and sent ambassadors to king Jarim: but he could not heal you, and your pain shall in nowise cease from you. BSB BSB: 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.
14 Brenton Wherefore I am as a panther to Ephraim, and as a lion to the house of Juda: and I will tear, and go away; and I will take, and there shall be none to deliver. BSB BSB: 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.
15 Brenton I will go and return to my place, until they are brought to nought, and then shall they seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me early, saying, BSB BSB: Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”