Hosea 7

1 When I would heal Israel, then is the iniquity of Ephraim uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and the thief entereth in, and the troop of robbers ravageth without.2 And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now have their own doings beset them about; they are before my face.3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.4 They are all adulterers; they are as an oven heated by the baker; he ceaseth to stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough, until it be leavened.5 On the day of our king the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with scoffers.6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as 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 among 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 doth testify to his face: yet they have not returned unto Jehovah their God, nor sought him, for all this.11 And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria.12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the birds of the heavens; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.13 Woe unto them! for they have wandered from me; destruction unto them! for they have trespassed against me: though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me.14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, but they howl upon their beds: they assemble themselves for grain and new wine; they rebel against me.15 Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet do they devise mischief against me.16 They return, but not to him that is on 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.

HOSEA 7

1 and to heal its wounds.
But then I see the crimes
in Israelt and Samaria.
Everyone is deceitful;
robbers roam the streets.

2 No one realizes
that I have seen their sins
surround them like a flood.

3 The king and his officials
take great pleasure
in their sin and deceit.

4 Everyone burns with desire—
they are like coals in an oven,
ready to burst into flames.

5 On the day their king
was crowned,
his officials got him drunk,
and he joined
in their foolishness.t

6 Their anger is a fire
that smolders all night,
then flares up at dawn.

7 They are flames
destroying their leaders.
And their kings are powerless;
none of them trust me.

8 The people of Israelt
have mixed with foreigners;
they are a thin piece of bread
scorched on one side.

9 They don't seem to realize
how weak and feeble they are;
their hair has turned gray,
while foreigners rule.

10 I am the [Lord], their God,
but in all of their troubles
their pride keeps them
from returning to me.

No Help from Foreign Nations

The [Lord] said:

11 Israelt is a senseless bird,
fluttering back and forth
between Egypt and Assyria.

12 But I will catch them in a net
as hunters trap birds;
I threatened to punish them,
and indeed I will.t

13 Trouble and destruction
will be their reward
for rejecting me.
I would have rescued them,
but they told me lies.

14 They don't really pray to me;
they just howl in their beds.
They have rejected me for Baal
and slashed themselves, t
in the hope that Baal
will bless their crops.

15 I taught them what they know,
and I made them strong.
Now they plot against me

16 and refuse to obey.t
They are more useless
than a crooked arrow.
Their leaders will die in war
for saying foolish things.
Egyptians will laugh at them.