Hosea 7

1When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.footnote afootnote b

2And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.footnote c

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

4They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.footnote dfootnote e

5In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.footnote f

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

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

8Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

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

10And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.

11Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

12When 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.

13Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.footnote i

14And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.

15Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.footnote j

16They 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.

Ephraim’s Iniquity

1When I heal Israel,the iniquity of Ephraimfootnote awill be exposed,as well as the crimes of Samaria.For they practice deceit and thieves break in;bandits raid in the streets. 2But they fail to consider in their heartsthat I remember all their evil.Now their deeds are all around them;they are before My face.

3They delight the king with their evil,and the princes with their lies. 4They are all adulterers,like an oven heated by a bakerwho needs not stoke the firefrom the kneading to the rising of the dough. 5The princes are inflamed with wineon the day of our king;so he joins handswith those who mock him. 6For they prepare their heart like an ovenwhile they lie in wait;all night their anger smolders;footnote bin the morning it blazes like a flaming fire. 7All of them are hot as an oven,and they devour their rulers.All their kings fall;not one of them calls upon Me.

8Ephraim mixes with the nations;Ephraim is an unturned cake. 9Foreigners consume his strength,but he does not notice.Even his hair is streaked with gray,but he does not know. 10Israel’s arrogance testifies against them,yet they do not return to the LORD their God;despite all this, they do not seek Him.

11So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove—calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria. 12As they go, I will spread My net over them;I will bring them down like birds of the air.I will chastise themwhen I hear them flocking together.footnote c

13Woe 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. 14They do not cry out to Me from their heartswhen they wail upon their beds.They slash themselvesfootnote dfor grain and new wine,but turn away from Me. 15Although I trained and strengthened their arms,they plot evil against Me. 16They turn, but not to the Most High;they are like a faulty bow.Their leaders will fall by the swordfor the cursing of their tongue;for this they will be ridiculedin the land of Egypt.