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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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.

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 leaders began to be mad with wine; he extended his hand with those who fabricate illusions.

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

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 himself has been mingled with the nations. Ephraim has become like bread, baked under ashes, that has not been 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 did not know it. And grey hairs also have spread across him, and he is ignorant of it.

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

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.

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 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 simple, silly dove: to Egypt they call, after Assyria they go,

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.

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 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! Destruction to them, for they have been untrue to me. Although it was I who redeemed them, they speak lies about 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 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 And I have educated them, and I have reinforced their arms; and they have imagined evil against me.

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

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 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.