Hosea 7
1 When I woulde haue healed Israel, then the iniquitie of Ephraim was discouered, and the wickednesse of Samaria: for they haue dealt falsly: and the theefe commeth in, and the robber spoyleth without.
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.
2 And they consider not in their hearts, that I remember all their wickednes: now their owne inuentions haue beset them about: they are in my sight.
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.
3 They make the King glad with their wickednesse, and the princes with their lies.
They delight the king with their evil, and the princes with their lies.
4 They are all adulterers, and as a very ouen heated by ye baker, which ceaseth from raysing vp, and from kneading ye dough vntill it be leauened.
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.
5 This is the day of our King: the princes haue made him sicke with flagons of wine: he stretcheth out his hand to scorners.
The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him.
6 For they haue made ready their heart like an ouen whiles they lie in waite: their baker sleepeth all the night: in the morning it burneth as a flame of fire.
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.
7 They are all hote as an ouen, and haue deuoured their iudges: all their Kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth vnto me.
All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings fall; not one of them calls upon Me.
8 Ephraim hath mixt himselfe among the people. Ephraim is as a cake on the hearth not turned.
Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake.
9 Strangers haue deuoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray heares are here and there vpon him, yet he knoweth not.
Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.
10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face, and they doe not returne to the Lord their God, nor seeke him for all this.
Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to the LORD their God; despite all this, they do not seek Him.
11 Ephraim also is like a doue deceiued, without heart: they call to Egypt: they go to Asshur.
So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove— calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.
12 But when they shall go, I will spred my net vpon them, and drawe them downe as the foules of the heauen: I will chastice them as their congregation hath heard.
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.
13 Wo vnto them: for they haue fled away from me: destruction shalbe vnto them, because they haue transgressed against me: though I haue redeemed them, yet they haue spoken lyes against me.
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.
14 And they haue not cryed vnto me with their hearts, when they houled vpon their beds: they assembled themselues for corne, and wine, and they rebell against me.
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.
15 Though I haue boud and strengthened their arme, yet doe they imagine mischiefe against me.
Although I trained and strengthened their arms, they plot evil against Me.
16 They returne, but not to the most high: they are like a deceitfull bowe: their princes shall fall by the sword, for the rage of their tongues: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
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.
