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I would like to heal Israel.
    But when I try to, Ephraim’s sins
    are brought out into the open.
The crimes of Samaria
    are made known to everyone.
The people tell lies.
    They break into houses and steal.
    They rob others in the streets.
But they do not realize
    that I remember all the evil things they do.
Their sins pile up and cover them.
    I am always aware of their sins.

“Their evil conduct even makes the king glad.
    Their lies make the princes happy.
But all the people are unfaithful to the king.
    Their anger against him burns
    like the coals in an oven.
The baker does not even need to stir up the fire
    until the dough is ready.”

On special days to honor our king,
    the princes get drunk with wine.
And the king enjoys the party.
    He joins hands with those
    who pretend to be faithful to him.
Their hearts are as hot as an oven.
    They make evil plans to get rid of him.
Their anger burns like a slow fire all night.
    In the morning it blazes out like a flaming fire.
All of them are as hot as an oven.
    They destroy their rulers.
All their kings fall from power.
    But none of them calls on the Lord for help.

The people of Ephraim mix with the nations.
    They are like a thin loaf of bread
    that is baked on only one side.
People from other lands make them weaker and weaker.
    But they don’t realize it.
Their hair is becoming gray.
    But they don’t even notice it.
10 The pride of Israel proves that they are guilty.
    But in spite of everything,
they don’t return to the Lord their God.
    They don’t go to him for help.

11 The Lord says,

“The people of Ephraim are like a dove.
    They are easily tricked.
    They do not have any sense at all.
First they call out to Egypt for help.
    Then they turn to Assyria.
12 When they send for help,
    I will throw my net over them.
I will capture them like the birds in the sky.
    When I hear them gathering like birds,
    I will catch them.
13 How terrible it will be for them!
    They have wandered away from me.
So they will be destroyed.
    That’s because they have refused to obey me.
I long to save them.
    But they tell lies about me.
14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts.
    Instead, they just lie on their beds and sob.
They cut themselves when they pray to their gods
    for grain and fresh wine.
    But they turn away from me.
15 I brought them up and made them strong.
    But they make evil plans against me.
16 I am the Most High God. But they do not turn to me.
    They are like a bow that does not shoot straight.
Their leaders will be killed by swords.
    They will die because they have spoken too proudly.
The people of Egypt
    will make fun of them.”

whenever I would heal Israel,
the sins of Ephraim are exposed
    and the crimes of Samaria revealed.(A)
They practice deceit,(B)
    thieves break into houses,(C)
    bandits rob in the streets;(D)
but they do not realize
    that I remember(E) all their evil deeds.(F)
Their sins engulf them;(G)
    they are always before me.

“They delight the king with their wickedness,
    the princes with their lies.(H)
They are all adulterers,(I)
    burning like an oven
whose fire the baker need not stir
    from the kneading of the dough till it rises.
On the day of the festival of our king
    the princes become inflamed with wine,(J)
    and he joins hands with the mockers.(K)
Their hearts are like an oven;(L)
    they approach him with intrigue.
Their passion smolders all night;
    in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
All of them are hot as an oven;
    they devour their rulers.
All their kings fall,(M)
    and none of them calls(N) on me.

“Ephraim mixes(O) with the nations;
    Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over.
Foreigners sap his strength,(P)
    but he does not realize it.
His hair is sprinkled with gray,
    but he does not notice.
10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against him,(Q)
    but despite all this
he does not return(R) to the Lord his God
    or search(S) for him.

11 “Ephraim is like a dove,(T)
    easily deceived and senseless—
now calling to Egypt,(U)
    now turning to Assyria.(V)
12 When they go, I will throw my net(W) over them;
    I will pull them down like the birds in the sky.
When I hear them flocking together,
    I will catch them.
13 Woe(X) to them,
    because they have strayed(Y) from me!
Destruction to them,
    because they have rebelled against me!
I long to redeem them
    but they speak about me(Z) falsely.(AA)
14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts(AB)
    but wail on their beds.
They slash themselves,[a] appealing to their gods
    for grain and new wine,(AC)
    but they turn away from me.(AD)
15 I trained(AE) them and strengthened their arms,
    but they plot evil(AF) against me.
16 They do not turn to the Most High;(AG)
    they are like a faulty bow.(AH)
Their leaders will fall by the sword
    because of their insolent(AI) words.
For this they will be ridiculed(AJ)
    in the land of Egypt.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 7:14 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts They gather together

When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.

And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.

They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.

In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.

They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.

11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.

13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.

15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.

16 They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.