7
1 When
I would heal
Israel,
then the iniquity
of Ephraim is
uncovered,
also the
wickedness of
Samaria;
for they commit
falsehood,
and the
thief enters in,
and the gang of
robbers ravages outside.
2 They don’t
consider in their
hearts that I
remember all their
wickedness.
Now their own
deeds have
engulfed them.
They are before
my face.
3 They
make the king
glad with their
wickedness,
and the princes
with their lies.
4 They are
all adulterers.
They are burning
like an oven
that the baker
stops stirring,
from the kneading
of the dough,
until it is
leavened.
5 On
the day of
our king, the
princes made
themselves sick
with the heat
of wine.
He joined his
hand with mockers.
6 For
they have prepared
their heart like
an oven,
while they lie
in wait.
Their anger smolders
all night.
In the morning
it burns as
a flaming fire.
7 They
are all hot
as an oven,
and devour their
judges.
All their kings
have fallen.
There is no
one among them
who calls to
me.
8 Ephraim mixes
himself among the
nations.
Ephraim is a pancake
not turned over.
9 Strangers
have devoured his
strength,
and he doesn’t
realize it.
Indeed, gray
hairs are here and
there on him,
and he doesn’t
realize it.
10 The
pride of Israel
testifies to his
face;
yet they haven’t
returned to the
LORD their God,
nor sought him,
for all this.
11 “Ephraim is
like an easily
deceived dove,
without understanding.
They call to
Egypt.
They go
to Assyria.
12 When
they go, I
will spread my
net on them.
I will bring
them down like
the birds of
the sky.
I will chastise
them, as their
congregation has
heard.
13 Woe to
them!
For they
have wandered from
me.
Destruction to
them!
For they have
trespassed against
me.
Though I would
redeem them,
yet they have
spoken lies
against me.
14 They haven’t
cried to me
with their heart,
but they howl
on their beds.
They assemble
themselves for
grain and new
wine.
They turn away
from me.
15 Though I
have taught and
strengthened their
arms,
yet they plot
evil against me.
16 They
return, but not
to the Most High.
They are like
a faulty bow.
Their princes
will fall by
the sword for
the rage of
their tongue.
This will be
their derision in
the land of Egypt.