Chapter 7

1  When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they practise falsehood; and the thief entereth in, and the troop of robbers assaileth without. 2  And they say not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now do their own doings encompass them; they are before my face. 3  They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. 4  They all practise adultery, as an oven heated by the baker: he ceaseth from stirring the fire after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. 5  In the day of our king, the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine: he stretched out his hand to scorners. 6  For they have applied their heart like an oven to their lying in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth like 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 with 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 testifieth to his face; and they do not return to Jehovah their God, nor seek him for all this. 11  And Ephraim is become like a silly dove without understanding: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12  When they go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowl of the heavens; I will chastise them, according as their assembly hath heard. 13  Woe unto them! for they have wandered from me; destruction unto them! for they have transgressed against me. And I would redeem them; but they speak lies against me. 14  And they cried not unto me in their heart, when they howled upon their beds; they assemble themselves for corn and new wine; they have turned aside from me. 15  I have indeed trained, I have strengthened their arms, but they imagine mischief against me. 16  They return, but not to the Most 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.