Ephraim’s Iniquity
1 When I heal Israel,
then the sins of Ephraim will be exposed,
also the wickedness of Samaria,
for they practice deceit.
The thief goes inside,
and the gang of robbers ravages outside.
2 They do not realize that I remember all of their wickedness.
Now their own deeds have engulfed them.
They are in my face.
3 They delight the king with their wickedness
and the princes with their lies.
4 They are all adulterers,
like an oven heated by the baker,
the dough that fails to rise
after he has kneaded it until it is leavened.
5 On the day of our king,
the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine.
He joined his hand with mockers.
6 For they have prepared their heart like an oven
while they lie in wait.
Their baker sleeps all 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, he intermingles with the nations.
Ephraim is a pan cake not turned over.
9 Strangers have devoured his strength,
and he does not realize it.
Indeed, his hair is graying,
and he does not realize it.
10 The pride of Israel testifies to his face,
yet they have not returned to the Lord their God,
nor sought him, for all this.
11 Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove,
without understanding.
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 air.
I will chastise them,
as their congregation has heard.
13 Woe to them!
For they have wandered from me.
Destruction to them,
for they have trespassed against me.
Though I would redeem them,
yet they have spoken lies against me.
14 They lay in their beds wailing,
yet they do not cry out to me from their hearts.
They slash themselves for grain and new wine,
but they turn away from me.
15 Though I have taught and strengthened them,
yet they plot evil against me.
16 They return, but not to the Most High.
They are like a faulty bow.
Their princes will fall by the sword
because of their raging tongues.
This will be the reason they are mocked
in the land of Egypt.