Hosea 7
1 When I heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim will be exposed, as well as the crimes of Samaria. For they practice deceit and thieves break in; bandits raid in the streets.
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 But they fail to consider in their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds are all around them; they are before My face.
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 delight the king with their evil, and the princes with their lies.
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
4 They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by a baker who needs not stoke the fire from the kneading to the rising of the dough.
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 The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him.
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 prepare their heart like an oven while they lie in wait; all night their anger smolders; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
For they have prepared their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their anger smoulders all night. In the morning it burns as a flaming fire.
7 All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings fall; not one of them calls upon Me.
They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one amongst them who calls to me.
8 Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake.
Ephraim mixes himself amongst the nations. Ephraim is a pancake not turned over.
9 Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn’t realise it. Indeed, grey hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn’t realise it.
10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to the LORD their God; despite all this, they do not seek Him.
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 So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove— calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.
“Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria.
12 As they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the air. I will chastise them when I hear them flocking together.
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 strayed from Me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against Me! Though I would redeem them, they speak lies against Me.
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 do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me.
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 Although I trained and strengthened their arms, they plot evil against Me.
Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me.
16 They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.
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.
