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Those who revolt are knee-deep in slaughter,[a]
but I will discipline them all.[b]
I know Ephraim all too well;[c]
the evil of[d] Israel is not hidden from me.
For you have engaged in prostitution, O Ephraim;
Israel has defiled itself.[e]
Their wicked deeds do not allow them to return to their God;
for a spirit of idolatry[f] is in them,
and they do not acknowledge the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 5:2 tc The MT reads וְשַׁחֲטָה שֵׂטִים הֶעְמִיקוּ (veshakhatah setim heʿmiqu), “and rebels have made deep the slaughter.” The BHS editors propose וְשַׁחַת הַשִּׁטִּים הֶעְמִיקוּ (veshakhat hashittim heʿmiqu), “they have made the pit of Shittim [place of idolatry] deep” (cf. NRSV, TEV, NLT; see BDB 1006 s.v. שַׁחֲטָה). This involves: (1) phonological confusion between the similar sounding consonants ת (tav) and ט (tet), (2) redivision of words to take ה (hey) as the article with הַשִּׁטִּים rather than as a feminine noun ending of וְשַׁחֲטָה, and (3) revocalization of הַשִּׁטִּים with the two dagesh forte’s. Retaining the reading of the MT is preferable here.tn Heb “and those who revolt have gone deep into slaughter” (similar KJV, NIV); cf. NASB “deep in depravity.”
  2. Hosea 5:2 tn Heb “but I am discipline to all of them”; cf. ASV “but I am a rebuker of them all.”
  3. Hosea 5:3 tn The phrase “all too well” does not appear in the Hebrew text but is supplied in the translation for clarity and stylistic reasons.
  4. Hosea 5:3 tn The phrase “the evil of” does not appear in the Hebrew text here but is implied by the metonymical (cause-effect) use of the term “Israel.” It is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity. Cf. NCV “what they have done is not hidden from me.”
  5. Hosea 5:3 tn Or “Israel has become corrupt”; cf. NCV “has made itself unclean,” and TEV “are unfit to worship me.”
  6. Hosea 5:4 tn Heb “a spirit of harlotries”; cf. NIV “a spirit of prostitution,” and TEV “Idolatry has a powerful hold on them.” However, CEV takes this literally: “your constant craving for sex keeps you from knowing me.”

The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter.(A)
    I will discipline all of them.(B)
I know all about Ephraim;
    Israel is not hidden(C) from me.
Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution;
    Israel is corrupt.(D)

“Their deeds do not permit them
    to return(E) to their God.
A spirit of prostitution(F) is in their heart;
    they do not acknowledge(G) the Lord.

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