Hosea Chapter 7
1 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria. For they have worked falsehood. And the thief comes in, the troop of robbers plunders outside.
2 They do not say within their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their own doings have hemmed them in. They are before me.
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 stops stirring, from kneading the dough, while it is leavened.
5 In the day of our king, the rulers have sickened themselves with the heat of wine. He stretches out his hand with scorners.
6 For they have brought their heart near like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their baker sleeps at 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. There is no one among them who calls to me.
8 Ephraim mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
9 Strangers have eaten up his strength, and he does not know. Yes, gray hairs are here and there on him, yet he knows it not.
10 The pride of Israel testifies to his face. They do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek Him in 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 on them; I will bring them down like the birds of the heavens; I will chastise them, as a report to their congregation.
13 Woe to them. For they have fled from me. Ruin to them. Because they have sinned against me. Though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
14 They have not cried out to me with their heart, when they howled on their beds. They gather for grain and wine and rebel against me.
15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet they think evil against me.
16 They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a deceitful bow. Their rulers will fall by the sword from the rage of their tongue. This will be their scorn in the land of Egypt.