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 would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was disclosed, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, [and] the troop of robbers strippeth without.

2 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.

And they consider not in their hearts [that] I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them around; they are before my face.

3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, 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. They are burning like an oven that the baker stops stirring, from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened.

They [are] all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, [who] ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it is leavened.

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

In the day of our king the princes have made [him] sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

6 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.

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.

7 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.

They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: [there is] none among them that calleth to me.

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

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

9 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.

Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth [it] not: yes, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

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

And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD 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 also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to 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 shall 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 heard.

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 fled from me: destruction to them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

14 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.

And they have not cried to me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, [and] they rebel against me.

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

Though I have bound [and] strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief 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 rage of their tongue: this [shall be] their derision in the land of Egypt.