"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.
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.
"The leaders of the people went to look for the Lord. They took their 'sheep' and 'cows' with them, but they did not find the Lord because he refused to accept them.
Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, so they went to Assyria for help. They told their problems to the great king, but he cannot heal you or cure your wound.
I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a young lion to the nation of Judah. I myself will rip them to pieces. I will carry them away, and no one can save them.
I will go back to my place, until the people admit they are guilty, until they come looking for me. Yes, in their trouble they will try very hard to find me."