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.

當我著手醫治以色列時，厄弗辣因的罪孽就顯露出來，撒馬利亞的惡也顯露出來，因為他們行了詭詐的事：竊賊潛入內室，而外遇強盜；

2 They don’t consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their own deeds have engulfed them. They are before my face.

但他們並不存心細想：我記住他們的一切惡行。現今他們的行為圍繞著他們，一一擺在我眼前。

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

他們使君王喜歡，是出於惡意，使首領快樂，是出於詭詐。

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.

個個燃起了怒火，像一座火爐，伙夫暫停煽火，直到和好的麵團發酵。

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

在他們君王的慶日上，當官長們酒勁發作，不能支持的時候，君王便和惡徒勾結起來。

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

他們的心雖因陰謀而焦慮得像火爐一樣，但他們的怒火卻整夜停息；一到早晨，卻又如烈火復燃。

7 They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one amongst them who calls to me.

個個像火爐一樣，熾燃起來，吞噬了他們的官長；他們的君王都倒斃了，但沒有一個向我呼求。

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

厄弗辣因想混雜在列邦之中，厄弗辣因成了一塊尚未翻過的烤餅。

9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn’t realise it. Indeed, grey hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn’t realise it.

外邦人耗盡了她的力量，她尚不自覺，頭上已佈滿了白髮，她還不知曉。

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.

[雖然如此，以色列的驕傲仍呈現在自己面上，他們仍不歸依，仍不尋求上主，他們的天主]。

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

厄弗辣因像愚蠢無知的鴿子，一時求救埃及，一時又投奔亞述；

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.

可是不論他們往何處去，我要向他們撒開我的羅網，使他們像天上的飛鳥跌下：一聽到他們聚齊待飛，我便將他們捕捉。

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.

他們有禍了! 因為他們遠離離了我；他們必遭受毀滅，因為他們背叛了我。我原想拯救他們，但他們卻對我撒謊，

14 They haven’t 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.

並沒有真心呼求我，只是在祭壇旁悲歎；為了五榖和新酒，仍自割己身，仍背叛我。

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

我雖然加強了他們的手臂，然而他們仍圖謀邪惡反抗我。

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.

他們歸向了虛無，變成了歪曲的弓；他們的首領因自己的狂言，必喪身刀下，且在埃及地為人恥笑。