1 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria. For they have dealt falsely; and a thief comes; a troop of robbers plunders outside.
2 And they do not consider within their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their own doings have surrounded them. They are before My face.
3 They make the king glad with their evil, and the rulers with their lies.
4 They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by the baker; he ceases from stirring after kneading the dough until it is leavened.
5 In the day of our king, the rulers have made themselves sick, inflamed with wine. He stretches out his hand with scorners.
6 For they have prepared their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their baker sleeps all night; in the morning it burns like a flaming fire.
7 They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges. All their kings have fallen; not one among them calls unto Me.
8 Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples. Ephraim is a cake not turned.
9 Strangers have eaten up his strength, yet he does not know it. Yea, gray hairs are sprinkled here and there on him, yet he does not know it.
10 And the pride of Israel testifies to his face. And they do not return to Jehovah their God, nor seek Him for all this.
11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart; they call to Egypt; they go to Assyria.
12 When they go, I will spread My net upon them; I will bring them down like the birds of the heavens; I will chastise them, according to the report their congregation heard.
13 Woe to them! For they have fled from Me. Ruin to them! For they have transgressed against Me. Though I redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against Me.
14 And they have not cried to Me with their heart, when they wailed on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and wine; they turn aside from Me.
15 Though I disciplined, I made their arms strong; yet they devise evil against Me.
16 They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a treacherous bow. Their rulers shall fall by the sword from the rage of their tongue. This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.