1 Listen, you priests!Pay attention, Israel!Listen, you membersof the royal family.Justice was your duty.But at Mizpah and Mount Taboryou trapped the people.
2 At the place of worshipyou were a treacherous pit,and I will punish you.
3 Israel, I know all about you,and because of your unfaithfulness,I find you unacceptable.
4 Your evil deeds are the reasonyou won't return to me,your Lord God.And your constant craving for sexkeeps you from knowing me.
5 Israel, your pridetestifies to your guilt;it makes you stumble,and Judah stumbles too.
6 You offer sheep and cattleas sacrifices to me,but I have turned awayand refuse to be found.
7 You have been unfaithfulto me, your Lord;you have had childrenby prostitutes.So at the New Moon Festival,you and your cropswill be destroyed.
8 Give a warning on the trumpet!Let it be heard in Gibeah,Ramah, and sinful Bethel.Benjamin, watch out!
9 I, the Lord, will punishand wipe out Israel.This is my solemn promiseto every tribe of Israel.
10 Judah's leaders are like crookswho move boundary markers;that's why I will flood themwith my anger.
11 Israel was brutally crushed.They got what they deservedfor worshipping useless idols.
12 Now I, the Lord,will fill Israel with maggotsand make Judah rot.
13 When Israel and Judah sawtheir sickness and wounds,Israel asked help from Assyriaand its mighty king.But the king cannot cure themor heal their wounds.
14 So I'll become a fierce lionattacking Israel and Judah.I'll snatch and carry offwhat I want,and no one can stop me.
15 Then I'll return to my templeuntil they confess their guiltand worship me,until they are desperateand beg for my help.