the Fourth Week of Advent
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New Life Version
Hosea 5
The Lord Will Judge Israel and Judah
1 "Hear this, O religious leaders! Listen, O people of Israel! Listen, O family of the king! For you are to be judged. You have been a trap at Mizpah, and a net spread out on Tabor. 2 Those who will not obey have gone deep into sin, but I will punish all of them. 3 I know all about Ephraim. Israel is not hidden from Me. O Ephraim, you have acted like a woman who sells the use of her body. Israel has made itself unclean. 4 Their wrong-doing will not allow them to return to their God. For a spirit of a woman who sells the use of her body is within them, and they do not know the Lord. 5 The pride of Israel speaks against them. Israel and Ephraim fall in their sin, and Judah has fallen with them. 6 They will go with their flocks and cattle to look for the Lord, but they will not find Him. He has gone away from them. 7 They have not been faithful to the Lord, for they have given birth to children who are not His. Now the new moon will destroy them with their land.
War between Judah and Israel
8 "Blow the horn in Gibeah and in Ramah! Let the sound of danger be heard at Beth-aven! Look behind you, Benjamin! 9 Ephraim will be laid waste in the day of punishment. Among the family groups of Israel I make known what is sure. 10 The leaders of Judah are like those who take away the land-marks. I will pour out My anger on them like water. 11 It is hard for Ephraim. He is crushed by punishment, because he wanted to follow what is of no worth. 12 So I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like a wasting disease to the people of Judah. 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah saw his sore, then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb for help. But he is not able to cure you, or heal your sore. 14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the people of Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away. I will carry them away, with no one to take them. 15 I will go away and return to My place until they know they are guilty and look for Me. In their suffering they will try to find Me."
