1 Listen to this, priests; pay attention, house of Israel; and give ear, house of the king! For the judgment {mishpat: covenant ruling} is aimed at you, because you were a snare {pakh: hidden trap} at Mizpah and a net spread upon Tabor.
2 The revolters {shetim: stubborn strayers} have gone deep into slaughter, but I {YHWH, Just Discipliner} am the One who disciplines all of them.
3 I {YHWH, Omniscient Judge} have known Ephraim, and Israel is not kept secret from Me; because now, Ephraim, you have committed harlotry {hizneta: covenant treachery}, and Israel is defiled.
4 Their deeds give them no leave to return to their God {Elohim, Sovereign Ruler}, because a spirit {ruach: driving force} of whoredoms is in their midst, and they have not known the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge}.
5 The pride{pgeon: defiant arrogance} of Israel stands as a witness in his presence, and Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity{avonam: covenant guilt}; Judah also has stumbled with them.
6 With their flock and their cattle, they will set out to seek the LORD {YHWH, Offended Covenant Lord}, but they will not find Him; He {YHWH, Withdrawing Presence} has withdrawn from them.
7 They have been unfaithful to the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge}, for they have begotten foreign children {zarim: outsiders}. Now the month will devour them, along with their portions.
8 Give a blast on the ram’s horn {shofar: signal horn} in Gibeah; let the trumpet sound in Ramah. Shout the alarm at Beth-aven; behind you, O Benjamin {binyamin: Benjamin tribe}.
9 Ephraim will become a desolation {shammah: utter ruin} in the day of rebuke; among the tribes of Israel I {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} have made known what is sure.
10 The princes of Judah were like those who push back a boundary line{gevul: land marker}; upon them I{YHWH, Righteous Judge} will spill out My wrath as water.
11 Ephraim is oppressed {ashuq: denied rights}, crushed by justice, because he was willing to walk after the command {tzav: imposed directive}.
12 And I {YHWH, Withering Judge} become to Ephraim like a moth {kaash: cloth eater}, and like rot to the house of Judah.
13 Ephraim noticed his sickness, and Judah his wound; so Ephraim went to Assyria {ashshur: imperial power} and sent to King Jareb. Yet he could not heal you, and he could not cure {yiggeh: bring relief} your wound.
14 For I{anokhi: emphatic Self} am like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house{beit: royal dynasty} of Judah. I, yes I, will tear and then go; I will carry away, and there will be no deliverer.
15 I {YHWH, Withdrawing Judge} will leave and return to My place until they own their guilt {yeashmu: accept blame} and seek My face. When distress comes upon them, they will search for Me eagerly.