Hosea 7

1 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.

When I woulde haue healed Israel, then the iniquitie of Ephraim was discouered, and the wickednesse of Samaria: for they haue dealt falsly: and the theefe commeth in, and the robber spoyleth without.

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

And they consider not in their hearts, that I remember all their wickednes: now their owne inuentions haue beset them about: they are in my sight.

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

They make the King glad with their wickednesse, and the princes with their lies.

4 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.

They are all adulterers, and as a very ouen heated by ye baker, which ceaseth from raysing vp, and from kneading ye dough vntill it be leauened.

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

This is the day of our King: the princes haue made him sicke with flagons of wine: he stretcheth out his hand to scorners.

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

For they haue made ready their heart like an ouen whiles they lie in waite: their baker sleepeth all the night: in the morning it burneth as a flame of fire.

7 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.

They are all hote as an ouen, and haue deuoured their iudges: all their Kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth vnto me.

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

Ephraim hath mixt himselfe among the people. Ephraim is as a cake on the hearth not turned.

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

Strangers haue deuoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray heares are here and there vpon him, yet he knoweth not.

10 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.

And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face, and they doe not returne to the Lord their God, nor seeke him for all this.

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

Ephraim also is like a doue deceiued, without heart: they call to Egypt: they go to Asshur.

12 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.

But when they shall go, I will spred my net vpon them, and drawe them downe as the foules of the heauen: I will chastice them as their congregation hath heard.

13 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.

Wo vnto them: for they haue fled away from me: destruction shalbe vnto them, because they haue transgressed against me: though I haue redeemed them, yet they haue spoken lyes against me.

14 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.

And they haue not cryed vnto me with their hearts, when they houled vpon their beds: they assembled themselues for corne, and wine, and they rebell against me.

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

Though I haue boud and strengthened their arme, yet doe they imagine mischiefe against me.

16 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.

They returne, but not to the most high: they are like a deceitfull bowe: their princes shall fall by the sword, for the rage of their tongues: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.