Hosea 5

¹Preestis, here ye this, and the hous of Israel, perseyue ye, and the hous of the kyng, herkne ye; for whi doom is to you, for ye ben maad a snare to lokyng afer, and as a net spred abrood on Thabor.

²And ye bowiden doun sacrifices in to depthe; and Y am the lernere of alle hem.

³Y knowe Effraym, and Israel is not hid fro me; for now Effraym dide fornicacioun, Israel is defoulid.

⁴Thei schulen not yiue her thouytis, that thei turne ayen to her God; for the spirit of fornicacioun is in the myddis of hem, and thei knewen not the Lord.

⁵And the boost of Israel schal answere in to the face therof, and Israel and Effraym schulen falle in her wickidnesse; also Judas schal falle with hem.

⁶In her flockis, and in her droues thei schulen go to seke the Lord, and thei schulen not fynde; he is takun awei fro hem.

⁷Thei trespassiden ayens the Lord, for thei gendriden alien sones; now the monethe schal deuoure hem with her partis.

⁸Sowne ye with a clarioun in Gabaa, with a trumpe in Rama; yelle ye in Bethauen, after thi bak, Beniamyn.

⁹Effraym schal be in to desolacioun, in the dai of amendyng, and in the lynagis of Israel Y schewide feith.

¹⁰The princes of Juda ben maad as takynge terme; Y schal schede out on hem my wraththe as watir.

¹¹Effraym suffrith fals chalenge, and is brokun bi doom; for he bigan to go after filthis.

¹²And Y am as a mouyte to Effraym, and as rot to the hous of Juda.

¹³And Effraym siy his sikenesse, and Judas siy his boond. And Effraym yede to Assur, and sente to the kyng veniere. And he mai not saue you, nether he mai vnbynde the boond fro you.

¹⁴For Y am as a lionesse to Effraym, and as a whelp of a lioun to the hous of Juda.

¹⁵Y my silf schal take, and go, and take awei, and noon is that schal delyuere. I schal go, and turne ayen to my place, til ye failen, and seken my face.

Hosea 5

¹Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.

²And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.

³I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

⁴They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord.

⁵And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.

⁶They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.

⁷They have dealt treacherously against the Lord: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

⁸Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Beth–aven, after thee, O Benjamin.

⁹Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.

¹⁰The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

¹¹Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

¹²Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.

¹³When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

¹⁴For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

¹⁵I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.