Hosea 7

1 when I would heal Israel, then is the iniquity of Ephraim uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria, for they commit falsehood; and the thief entereth in, and the troop of robbers maketh a raid without.

when I would heal Israel, then Ephrain’s guilt is revealed, and Samaria’s crimes are seen, how they practise fraud and the thief enters in, while outside bandits plunder.

2 And let them not say to their heart — I remember all their wickedness; now their own doings have beset them about, they are before My face.

But it never crosses their minds that I remember their wickedness. Now their misdeeds surround them, they are always before my face.

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

Their wickedness amuses the king, and their lying gladdens the princes,

4 They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth to stir from the kneading of the dough until it be leavened.

since they are all of them adulterers. Their desire to do evil burns like an oven heated by the baker, so hot that he need not stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough, until it rises.

5 On the day of our king the princes make him sick with the heat of wine, he stretcheth out his hand with scorners.

On our king’s festival day, the princes are flushed with fever from wine. He stretched forth his hand with the contemptuous,

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

for like an oven their heart burns with treachery, all night their anger smoulders, in the morning it blazes into a flame of fire.

7 They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges; all their kings are fallen, there is none among them that calleth unto Me.

All of them glow like an oven, they devour their rulers. All their kings have fallen. There is none among them who calls to me.

8 Ephraim, he mixeth himself with the peoples; Ephraim is become a cake not turned.

Ephraim – he lets himself be mixed among the peoples, Ephraim – he has become a cake unturned.

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

Strangers have devoured his strength, but he does not know it. His hair is sprinkled with grey, but he does not notice.

10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face; but they have not returned unto the LORD their God, nor sought Him, for all this.

Israel’s arrogance testifies against them yet they do not return to the Lord their God, and in all this they do not seek him.

11 And Ephraim is become like a silly dove, without understanding; they call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria.

Ephraim is like a simple, silly dove: to Egypt they call, after Assyria they go,

12 Even as they 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 been made to hear.

wherever they turn I will spread my net over them, like birds of the sky I will bring them down, I will catch them when I hear them gathering.

13 Woe unto them! for they have strayed from Me; Destruction unto them! for they have transgressed against Me; Shall I then redeem them, seeing they have spoken lies against Me?

Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have been untrue to me. Although it was I who redeemed them, they speak lies about me.

14 And they have not cried unto Me with their heart, though they wail upon their beds; they assemble themselves for corn and wine, they rebel against Me.

They have never cried to me with their hearts, but they are always wailing on their beds. They gather to beg for corn and new wine, but they turn away from me.

15 Though I have trained and strengthened their arms, yet do they devise evil against Me.

Although it was I who trained and strengthened their arms, concerning me they plan only evil.

16 They return, but not upwards; they are become 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.

They turn away from the Most High. They have become like a bow that swerves. Their princes will fall by the sword, because of the insolence of their tongues. The land of Egypt will mock them.