Hosea 7

1When I heal Israel, Ephraim's iniquity is exposed, and Samaria's evils appear—for they commit falsehood; a thief enters, and a marauding band plunders outside.

2They do not say in their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds have surrounded them; they are before my face.

3They gladden the king with their wickedness and the princes with their lies.

4They are all adulterers, like an oven that burns while its baker ceases stirring from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.

5On the day of our king, the princes made him sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with mockers.

6For they prepare their heart like an oven while lying in ambush—their baker sleeps all night; in the morning it burns like a flaming fire.

7All of them burn hot like an oven and devour their judges. All their kings have fallen. None among them calls to me.

8Ephraim mixes among the nations; he has become a cake not turned over.

9Foreigners have consumed his strength, yet he does not know. Gray hairs are sprinkled on him too, yet he does not know.

10The pride of Israel testifies against him, yet they have not returned to Yahweh their God, nor sought him despite all this.

11Ephraim became like a gullible dove without understanding; they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

12When they go, I will spread my net over them like a bird of the sky; I will bring them down, I will chastise them as their congregation has heard.

13Woe to them, for they have fled from me; ruin to them, for they have rebelled against me! Though I would redeem them, they have spoken lies against me.

14They did not cry out to me in their hearts, for they wail upon their beds, gathering for grain and new wine; they rebel against me.

15Though I disciplined and strengthened their arms, they devise evil against me.

16They turn back, but not to the Most High; they have become like a treacherous bow. Their princes fall by the sword because of the indignation their tongue provokes—this becomes their scorn in the land of Egypt.