1
When I would heal Israel , then the iniquity of Ephraim is discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria : for they practise falsehood ; and the thief entereth in, [and] the troop of robbers assaileth without.
2
And they say not in their hearts [that] I remember all their wickedness : now do their own doings encompass them; they are before my face .
3
They make the king glad with their wickedness , and the princes with their lies.
4
They all practise adultery, as an oven heated by the baker : he ceaseth from stirring [the fire] after he hath kneaded the dough , until it be leavened.
5
In the day of our king, the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine : he stretched out his hand to scorners.
6
For they have applied their heart like an oven to their lying in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night ; in the morning it burneth like a flaming fire .
7
They are all hot as an oven , and devour their judges ; all their kings are fallen : there is none among them that calleth unto me.
8
Ephraim , he mixeth himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned .
9
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth [it] not; yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, and he knoweth [it] not.
10
And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face ; and they do not return to Jehovah their God , nor seek him for all this.
11
And Ephraim is become like a silly dove without understanding: they call to Egypt , they go to Assyria.
12
When they go , I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowl of the heavens ; I will chastise them, according as their assembly hath heard .
13
Woe unto them! for they have wandered from me; destruction unto them! for they have transgressed against me. And I would redeem them; but they speak lies against me.
14
And they cried not unto me in their heart , when they howled upon their beds ; they assemble themselves for corn and new wine; they have turned aside from me.
15
I have indeed trained, I have strengthened their arms , but they imagine mischief against me.
16
They return , [but] not to the [Most] High : they are like a deceitful bow . Their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue : this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt .