Osée 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.