1. “Priests, nation of Israel, and people in the king’s family, listen to me. You have been judged guilty! “You were like a trap at Mizpah and like a net spread on the ground at Tabor.
2. You have done many evil things, so I will punish you all.
3. I know Ephraim. I know what Israel has done. Ephraim, right now you act like a prostitute. Israel is dirty with sin.
4. The people of Israel have done many evil things, and these evil things keep them from coming back to their God. They are always thinking of ways to chase after other gods. They don’t know the Lord.
5. Israel’s pride is a witness against them, so Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their sin. But Judah will also stumble with them.
6. “The leaders of the people went to look for the Lord. They took their sheep and cattle with them, but they did not find the Lord because he refused to accept them.
7. They have not been faithful to the Lord. Their children are from some stranger. And now, he will destroy them and their land again.