Hosea 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.

When I was about to deliver my people from captivity, When I would have healed Israel, Then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, And the wickedness of Samaria; For they practise fraud, And the thief entereth in, And the band of robbers spoileth without.

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

And they think not in their hearts, That I remember all their wickedness. Now shall their doings encompass them; They are before my face.

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

With their wickedness they gladden the king, And with their falsehoods the princes; All of them are adulterers;

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.

They are as an oven heated by the baker; He ceaseth to stir the fire, Until the dough which he hath kneaded be leavened.

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

On the feast-day of our king, the princes are sick with the heat of wine, And he stretcheth out his hand with revilers.

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.

For they make ready their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait; All night the baker sleepeth; In the morning it gloweth like 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.

They all glow as an oven; They have devoured their judges; All their kings have fallen; And none among them calleth upon me.

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

Ephraim hath mixed himself with the nations; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he does not realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he does not realize it.

Strangers have devoured his strength, And he knoweth it not; Yea, gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, Yet he knoweth it not.

10 The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they have not returned to the LORD their God, nor sought him, for all this.

The pride of Israel testifieth to his face; Yet do not they return to Jehovah their God, Nor seek him, for all this.

11 “Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria.

Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding; They call upon 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.

When they go, I will spread my net over them; As birds of heaven will I bring them down. I will chastise them, as hath been proclaimed in their congregation.

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.

Woe to them, for they have wandered from me! Destruction upon them, for they have rebelled against me! Though I myself would redeem them, they speak falsely to me.

14 They have not 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.

They cry not to me from their heart, But howl upon their beds; For corn and wine they assemble themselves; They rebel against me.

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

I have chastened them; I have also strengthened their arms; Yet do they devise 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.

They return, but not to the Most High; They are like a deceitful bow; Their princes shall fall by the sword for the haughtiness of their tongues; This shall be their reproach in the land of Egypt.