Hosea — Chapter 7
Israel is reproved for her many sins—Ephraim is mixed among the people.
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 adoings 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, whiles 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 calleth unto me.
9
aStrangers 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 areturn to the Lord their God, nor bseek 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 anet 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: adestruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I bhave credeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
14
And they have not acried 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 abound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.