Osee

Chapter 5

The Prophet reprehendeth the Priests, and Princes of both Kingdoms, for drawing the people to idolatry: ℣.8 denouncing captivity for the same.

1
Hear ye this o Priests, and attend ye house of Israel, and you the king's house harken: because there is judgement for you, because you are become a snare to speculation, & a net spread upon Thabor.
2
And victims you have declined into the depth: & I, the teacher of them all.
3
I know Ephraim, & Israel is not hid from me: because now hath Ephraim fornicated, Israel is contaminated.
4
They will not give their cogitations to return to their God, because the spirit of fornications is in the midst of them, & they have not known the Lord.
5
And the arrogancy of Israel shall answer in his face: and Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity, Judas also shall fall with them.
6
In their flocks and in their herds they shall go to seek the Lord, and shall not find: he is taken away from them.
7
They have prevaricated against the Lord, because they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their parts.
8
Sound with the trumpet in Gabaa, & with the shalm in Rama: howl ye in Bethaven, behind thy back o Benjamin.
9
Ephraim shall be in desolation in the day of correction: in the tribes of Israel I have shewed faith.
10
The princes of Juda are become as they that take the bound: I will pour out my wrath as water upon them.
11
Ephraim is suffering calumny, broken in judgement: because he began to go after filthiness.
12
And I as it were a moth to Ephraim: & as the rot to the house of Juda.
13
And Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judas his band: and Ephraim went to Assur, and sent to the king revenger: and he shall not be able to heal you, neither shall he be able to loose the band from you.
14
Because I as it were a lioness to Ephraim, and as a lion's whelp to the house of Juda: I, I will take, and go: I will take away, and there is none that can deliver.
15
Going I will return to my place: until you fail and seek my face.