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 heal Israel, then Ephrain’s guilt is revealed, and Samaria’s crimes are seen, how they practise fraud and the thief enters in, while outside bandits plunder.

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.

But it never crosses their minds that I remember their wickedness. Now their misdeeds surround them, they are always before my face.

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

Their wickedness amuses the king, and their lying gladdens the princes,

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.

since they are all of them adulterers. Their desire to do evil burns like an oven heated by the baker, so hot that he need not stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough, until it rises.

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

On our king’s festival day, the princes are flushed with fever from wine. He stretched forth his hand with the contemptuous,

6 For they have prepared their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their anger smolders all night. In the morning it burns as a flaming fire.

for like an oven their heart burns with treachery, all night their anger smoulders, in the morning it blazes into a flame of 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.

All of them glow like an oven, they devour their rulers. All their kings have fallen. There is none among them who calls to me.

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

Ephraim – he lets himself be mixed among the peoples, Ephraim – he has become a cake unturned.

9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he does not realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he does not realize it.

Strangers have devoured his strength, but he does not know it. His hair is sprinkled with grey, but he does not notice.

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

Israel’s arrogance testifies against them yet they do not return to the Lord their God, and in all this they do not seek him.

11 “Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria.

Ephraim is like a simple, silly dove: to Egypt they call, after Assyria they go,

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.

wherever they turn I will spread my net over them, like birds of the sky I will bring them down, I will catch them when I hear them gathering.

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! Destruction to them, for they have been untrue to me. Although it was I who redeemed them, they speak lies about me.

14 They have not 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.

They have never cried to me with their hearts, but they are always wailing on their beds. They gather to beg for corn and new wine, but they turn away from me.

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

Although it was I who trained and strengthened their arms, concerning me they plan only evil.

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 turn away from the Most High. They have become like a bow that swerves. Their princes will fall by the sword, because of the insolence of their tongues. The land of Egypt will mock them.