6When they come with their flocks and herds
to offer sacrifices to the Lord,
they will not find him,
because he has withdrawn from them.
7They have betrayed the honor of the Lord,
bearing children that are not his.
Now their false religion will devour them
along with their wealth.
8“Sound the alarm in Gibeah!
Blow the trumpet in Ramah!
Raise the battle cry in Beth-aven!
Lead on into battle, O warriors of Benjamin!
9One thing is certain, Israel:
On your day of punishment,
you will become a heap of rubble.
10“The leaders of Judah have become like thieves.
So I will pour my anger on them like a waterfall.
11The people of Israel will be crushed and broken by my judgment
because they are determined to worship idols.
12I will destroy Israel as a moth consumes wool.
I will make Judah as weak as rotten wood.
13“When Israel and Judah saw how sick they were,
Israel turned to Assyria—
to the great king there—
but he could neither help nor cure them.
14I will be like a lion to Israel,
like a strong young lion to Judah.
I will tear them to pieces!
I will carry them off,
and no one will be left to rescue them.
15Then I will return to my place
until they admit their guilt and turn to me.
For as soon as trouble comes,
they will earnestly search for me.”
