[1] When I would heal Israel, The wrongdoing of Ephraim is uncovered, And the evil deeds of Samaria, For they practice deception; The thief enters, A band of robbers attack outside, [2] And they do not consider in their hearts That I remember all their wickedness. Now their deeds surround them; They are before My face. [3] With their wickedness they make the king happy, And the officials with their lies. [4] They are all adulterers, Like an oven heated by the baker, Who stops stoking the fire From the time the dough is kneaded 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 scoffers, [6] For their hearts are like an oven As they approach their plotting; Their anger smolders all night, In the morning it burns like flaming fire. [7] All of them are hot like an oven, And they consume their rulers; All their kings have fallen. None of them calls on Me. [8] Ephraim is himself thrown about with the nations; Ephraim has become a round loaf not turned over. [9] Strangers devour his strength, Yet he does not know it; Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know it. [10] Though the pride of Israel testifies against him, Yet they have not returned to the Lord their God, Nor have they sought Him, despite all this. [11] So Ephraim has become like a gullible dove, without sense; They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. [12] When they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will discipline them in accordance with the proclamation to their assembly. [13] Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they have spoken lies against Me. [14] And they do not cry to Me from their heart When they wail on their beds; For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves, They turn against Me. [15] Although I trained and strengthened their arms, Yet they devise evil against Me. [16] They turn, but not upward, They are like a loose bow; Their officials will fall by the sword Because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.
