Hosea 4:15-Hosea 5:15 - Warnings For Israel And Judah

¹⁵ Though thou, Israel, are disposed to play the harlot, yet shouldest not thou have offended, O Judah. Thou shouldest not have run to Gilgal, nor gone up to Bethaven, nor have sworn, 'The LORD liveth.' ¹⁶ For Israel is gone back like a wanton cow. The LORD therefore shall make her feed, as the lamb that goeth astray. ¹⁷ And whereas Ephraim is become partaker of Idols: well, let him go. ¹⁸ Their drunkenness hath put them back, and brought them to whoredom. Their rulers love rewards; "Bring," say they, to their own shame. ¹⁹ A wind shall take hold of their feathers, and they shall be confounded in their offerings.

¹ O ye priests, hear this; take heed, O thou household of Israel; give ear, O thou kingly house. For this punishment will come upon you, that are become a snare unto Mizphah, and a spread net unto the mount of Tabor. ² They kill sacrifices by heaps, to beguile the people therewith: therefore will I punish them all. ³ I know Ephraim well enough, and Israel is not hid from me: for Ephraim is become a harlot, and Israel is defiled. ⁴ They are not minded to turn unto their God, for they have an whorish heart, so that they cannot know the LORD. ⁵ But the pride of Israel will be rewarded him in his face, yea both Israel and Ephraim shall fall for their wickedness, and Judah with them also. ⁶ They shall come with their sheep and bullocks to seek the LORD, but they shall not find him, for he is gone from them. ⁷ As for the LORD, they have refused him, and brought up bastard children: a month therefore shall devour them with their portions.

⁸ Blow with the shawmes at Gibeah, and with the trumpet in Ramah, cry out at Bethaven upon the yon-side of Benjamin. ⁹ In that time of the plague shall Ephraim be laid waste, therefore did I faithfully warn the tribes of Israel. ¹⁰ Yet are the princes of Judah become like them, that remove the landmarks: therefore will I pour out my wrath upon them like water. ¹¹ Ephraim is oppressed, and can have no right of the law. For why? They follow the doctrines of men. ¹² Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as a caterpillar. ¹³ When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his disease: Ephraim went unto Assyria, and sent unto king Jareb: yet could not he help you, nor ease you of your pain. ¹⁴ I am unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a lion's whelp to the house of Judah. Even I, I will spoil them, and go my way. I will take them with me, and no man shall rescue them. ¹⁵ I will go, and return to my place, till they wax faint, and seek me.