| Chapter 7 |
1 |
When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they practise falsehood; and the thief entereth in, and the troop of robbers assaileth without. |
2 |
And they say not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now do their own doings encompass them; they are before my face. |
3 |
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. |
4 |
They all practise adultery, as an oven heated by the baker: he ceaseth from stirring the fire after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. |
5 |
In the day of our king, the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine: he stretched out his hand to scorners. |
6 |
For they have applied their heart like an oven to their lying in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth like a flaming 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. |
8 |
Ephraim, he mixeth himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned. |
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. |
10 |
And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face; and they do not return to Jehovah their God, nor seek him for all this. |
11 |
And Ephraim is become like a silly dove without understanding: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. |
12 |
When they go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowl of the heavens; I will chastise them, according as their assembly hath heard. |
13 |
Woe unto them! for they have wandered from me; destruction unto them! for they have transgressed against me. And I would redeem them; but they speak lies against me. |
14 |
And they cried not unto me in their heart, when they howled upon their beds; they assemble themselves for corn and new wine; they have turned aside from me. |
15 |
I have indeed trained, I have strengthened their arms, but they imagine mischief against me. |
16 |
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. |