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.

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 They do not consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their own deeds have engulfed them. They are before my face.

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

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

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, 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 princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine. He joined his hand with mockers.

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 made ready their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their baker sleeps all the night. In the morning it burns as a flaming 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 are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one among them who calls to me.

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, he mixes himself among the nations. Ephraim is a pancake not 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 doesn't realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn't realize 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 The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they haven't returned to the LORD their God, nor sought him, for all 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 "Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria.

Ephraim is like a dove, gullible and without sense, calling out to Egypt, then flying 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 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 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 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 They haven't cried to me with their heart, but they wail on their beds. They cut themselves for grain and new wine. They turn away 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 Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me.

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

16 They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be 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.