when I would heal Israel, the corruption of Ephraim is revealed, and the wicked deeds of Samaria; for they deal falsely, the thief breaks in, and the bandits raid outside. 2 But they do not consider that I remember all their wickedness. Now their deeds surround them, they are before my face. 3 By their wickedness they make the king glad, and the officials by their treachery. 4 They are all adulterers; they are like a heated oven, whose baker does not need to stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened. 5 On the day of our king the officials became sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with mockers. 6 For they are kindled[a] like an oven, their heart burns within them; all night their anger smolders; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire. 7 All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings have fallen; none of them calls upon me.
8 Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned. 9 Foreigners devour his strength, but he does not know it; gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, but he does not know it. 10 Israel’s pride testifies against[b] him; yet they do not return to the Lord their God, or seek him, for all this.
Futile Reliance on the Nations
11 Ephraim has become like a dove, silly and without sense; they call upon Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12 As they go, I will cast my net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the air; I will discipline them according to the report made to their assembly.[c] 13 Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me.
14 They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; they gash themselves for grain and wine; they rebel against me. 15 It was I who trained and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me. 16 They turn to that which does not profit;[d] they have become like a defective bow; their officials shall fall by the sword because of the rage of their tongue. So much for their babbling in the land of Egypt.
Footnotes
a. Hosea 7:6 Gk Syr: Heb brought near
b. Hosea 7:10 Or humbles
c. Hosea 7:12 Meaning of Heb uncertain
d. Hosea 7:16 Cn: Meaning of Heb uncertain
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
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