Hosea

Ephraim’s Iniquity

1When I heal Israel,the iniquity of Ephraimwill be exposed, as well as the crimes of Samaria.For they practice deceit and thieves break in;bandits raid in the streets.

2But they fail to consider in their heartsthat I remember all their evil.Now their deeds are all around them;they are before My face.

3They delight the king with their evil,and the princes with their lies.

4They are all adulterers,like an oven heated by a bakerwho needs not stoke the firefrom the kneading to the rising of the dough.

5The princes are inflamed with wineon the day of our king;so he joins handswith those who mock him.

6For they prepare their heart like an ovenwhile they lie in wait;all night their anger smolders;in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

7All of them are hot as an oven,and they devour their rulers.All their kings fall;not one of them calls upon Me.

8Ephraim mixes with the nations;Ephraim is an unturned cake.

9Foreigners consume his strength,but he does not notice.Even his hair is streaked with gray,but he does not know.

10Israel’s arrogance testifies against them,yet they do not return to the LORD their God; despite all this, they do not seek Him.

11So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove—calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.

12As they go, I will spread My net over them;I will bring them down like birds of the air.I will chastise themwhen I hear them flocking together.

13Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me!Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against Me!Though I would redeem them,they speak lies against Me.

14They do not cry out to Me from their heartswhen they wail upon their beds.They slash themselvesfor grain and new wine,but turn away from Me.

15Although I trained and strengthened their arms,they plot evil against Me.

16They turn, but not to the Most High;they are like a faulty bow.Their leaders will fall by the swordfor the cursing of their tongue;for this they will be ridiculedin the land of Egypt.

1When 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.

2They don’t consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness.Now their own deeds have engulfed them. They are before my face.

3They make the king glad with their wickedness,and the princes with their lies.

4They are all adulterers.They are burning like an oven that the baker stops stirring, from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened.

5On the day of our king, the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine.He joined his hand with mockers.

6For 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.

7They 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.

8Ephraim mixes himself among the nations.Ephraim is a pancake not turned over.

9Strangers 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.

10The 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.

12When 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.

13Woe 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.

14They 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.

15Though I have taught and strengthened their arms,yet they plot evil against me.

16They 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.