Hosea 7

1 When I was willing to heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the malice of Samaria, for they had been manufacturing lies. And the thief steals from inside, the robber from outside.

Whenever I want to heal Israel, the sin of Ephraim is exposed, as well as the evil deeds of Samaria, for they practice deceit; a thief comes in, and a marauding band attacks in the street.

2 And, so that they may not say in their hearts that I am the one who has called to mind all of their wickedness: now their own inventions have encircled them. These things have happened in my presence.

They do not realize in their hearts that I remember all their evil deeds. Now their deeds surround them; they are before my face.

3 The king has rejoiced at their wickedness, and the leaders have rejoiced in their lies.

With their evil they make the king glad, and by their lies the officials.

4 They are all adulterers; like an oven heating up before baking, the city rested a little before the leaven was mixed in, until the whole was leavened.

They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by the baker, who ceases to stir the fire from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.

5 On the day of our king, the leaders began to be mad with wine; he extended his hand with those who fabricate illusions.

On the day of our king the officials made themselves sick with the heat of wine. He reached out with his hand to those who were mocking.

6 For they have used their heart like an oven, while he laid snares for them; he slept through the night baking them, and by morning he himself was heated like a burning fire.

For with hearts like an oven, they devise their deceitful plans. Their anger smolders all night; in the morning it burns high like a flaming fire.

7 They have all become hot like an oven, and they have devoured their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one who calls to me among them.

They all are as hot as an oven, and they devour those who rule over them. All their kings have fallen; none of them calls on me.

8 Ephraim himself has been mingled with the nations. Ephraim has become like bread, baked under ashes, that has not been turned over.

Ephraim mixes himself among the peoples. Ephraim is a flat cake that has not been turned over.

9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he did not know it. And grey hairs also have spread across him, and he is ignorant of it.

Foreigners have devoured his strength, but he does not know it. Gray hairs are sprinkled on him, but he does not know it.

10 And the pride of Israel will be brought low before his face, for they have not returned to the Lord their God, nor have they sought him in all of this.

The pride of Israel testifies against him; however, they have not returned to Yahweh their God, nor have they sought him, in spite of all this.

11 And Ephraim has become like a pigeon that has been led astray, not having a heart; for they called upon Egypt, they went to the Assyrians.

Ephraim is like a dove, gullible and without sense, calling out to Egypt, then flying to Assyria.

12 And when they will set out, I will spread my net over them. I will pull them down like the birds of the sky; I will cut them down in accordance with the reports of their meetings.

When they go, I will spread my net over them, I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will punish them in their flocking together.

13 Woe to them, for they have withdrawn from me. They will waste away because they have been dishonest with me. And I redeemed them, and they have spoken lies against me.

Woe to them! For they have strayed from me. Devastation is coming to them! They have rebelled against me! I would have rescued them, but they spoke lies against me.

14 And they have not cried out to me in their heart, but they howled on their beds. They have obsessed about wheat and wine; they have withdrawn from me.

They have not cried to me with all their heart, but they wail on their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine, and they turn away from me.

15 And I have educated them, and I have reinforced their arms; and they have imagined evil against me.

Though I trained them and strengthened their arms, they are now plotting evil against me.

16 They returned so that they might be without a yoke. They have become like a deceitful bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of the madness of their words. This is their derision in the land of Egypt.

They return, but they do not return to me, the Most High. They are like a slack bow. Their officials will fall by the sword because of the insolence of their tongues. This will become their mockery in the land of Egypt.