A reproof of manifold sins.

¹⁾When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria:; for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.

²⁾And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness:; now their own doings have 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, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.

⁵⁾In the day of our king, the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

⁶⁾For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whileswhile 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 have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen:; there is none among them that callethcalled unto me.

⁸⁾Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; 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, yet he knoweth not.

¹⁰⁾And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face:; and they do not return to the LORDLord 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 shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.

¹³⁾Woe unto them! for they have fled from me:; destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me:; though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

¹⁴⁾And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds:; they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.

¹⁵⁾Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.

¹⁶⁾They return, but not to the mostMost 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.