The Book of the Prophet Hosea 7

 The Book of the Prophet Hosea 7

1 When I healed Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered, as well as the wickedness of Samaria; for they have practiced falsehood: and the thief enters, and the gang of robbers steals outside.

2 But they do not say in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness; now therefore their deeds surround them; they are before my face.

3 With their wickedness they make the king glad, and with their lies the princes.

4 They are all adulterers; they are like an oven lit by the baker, who ceases to kindle the fire from the time he kneads the dough until it is leavened.

5 And in the day of our king the princes became sick with the excitement of wine; he stretched out his hand with the scoffers.

6 For, like an oven, they applied their hearts, lying in wait; All night long their baker sleeps; in the morning he burns like a blazing fire.

7 They are all as hot as an oven, and they consume their judges; all their kings fall; there is no one among them who calls upon me.

8 Ephraim mingles with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he does not know it; gray hairs are also spread upon him, and he does not know it.

10 And the pride of Israel will testify in his face: yet they will not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him in all this.

11 For Ephraim is like a deceived dove, without understanding: they call upon Egypt, they go to Assyria.

12 When they go, I will spread my net over them, and like birds of the air I will bring them down: I will punish them according to what they have heard in their congregation.

13 Woe to them, for they have fled from me; destruction upon them, for they have rebelled against me! I redeemed them, but they spoke lies against me.

14 They did not call upon me with their hearts, but they howled on their beds; they gathered themselves together for grain and wine, but rebelled against me.

15 I taught them, and strengthened their arms, but they devised evil against me.

16 They return, but not to the Most High. They have become like a deceitful bow; their princes fall by the sword because of the violence of their tongues; this will be their scorn in the land of Egypt.