Israel and Judah will be judged

The LORD said:

1Listen, you priests!

Pay attention, Israel!5.1 Israel: Probably meaning the tribal leaders of Israel.

Listen, you members

of the royal family.

Justice was your duty.

But5.1 Justice…duty. But: Or “You are doomed, because”. at Mizpah and Mount Tabor

you trapped the people.

2At the place of worship

you were a treacherous pit,5.2 At…pit: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

and I will punish you.

3Israel, I know-all about you,

and because of your unfaithfulness,

I find you unacceptable.

4Your evil deeds are the reason

you won't return to me,

your LORD God.

And your constant craving for sex

keeps you from knowing me.

5Israel, your pride

testifies to your guilt;

it makes you stumble,

and Judah stumbles too.

6You offer sheep and cattle

as sacrifices to me,

but I have turned away

and refuse to be found.

7You have been unfaithful

to me, your LORD;

you have had children

by prostitutes.5.7 prostitutes: See 4.14, and the note at 1.2.

So at the New Moon Festival,

you and your crops

will be destroyed.5.7 So…destroyed: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

The LORD warns Israel and Judah

8Give a warning on the trumpet!

Let it be heard in Gibeah,

Ramah, and sinful Bethel.5.8 sinful Bethel: See the note at 4.15. Gibeah is about five kilometres north of Jerusalem, Ramah is eight kilometres north, and Bethel is seventeen and a half kilometres north. The attack comes from the south, and all the land of Benjamin (belonging to Israel) is in danger.

Benjamin, watch out!5.8 watch out: Or “lead the way”.

9I, the LORD, will punish

and wipe out Israel.

This is my solemn promise

to every tribe of Israel.

10Judah's leaders are like crooks

who move boundary markers;

that's why I will flood them

with my anger.

11Israel was brutally crushed.

They got what they deserved

for worshipping useless idols.5.11 for…idols: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

12Now I, the LORD,

will fill Israel with maggots

and make Judah rot.

13When Israel and Judah saw

their sickness and wounds,

Israel asked help from Assyria

and its mighty king.5.13 and…king: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

But the king cannot cure them

or heal their wounds.

14So I'll become a fierce lion

attacking Israel and Judah.

I'll snatch and carry off

what I want,

and no one can stop me.

15Then I'll return to my temple

until they confess their guilt

and worship me,

until they are desperate

and beg for my help.