Hosea 7

1whenever I would heal Israel, Ephraim’s guilt comes to light, and the wicked deeds of Samaria, for they deal in lies. Thieves break into houses; gangs of raiders rob in the streets. 2They never stop to think that I remember all their wickedness. Now their deeds hem them in; they are always in my sight. 3They delight the king with their wickedness, and the officials with their lies. 4They are all adulterers; they are like an oven heated by the baker, who stops stirring up the fire from the time he kneads the dough until it has risen. 5On our king’s festival day the officials made him sick with the heat of wine, and he joined hands with mockers. 6For their hearts are like an oven as they draw near with their schemes; all night long their baker sleeps; in the morning the oven blazes like a flaming fire. 7They are all as hot as an oven, and they consume their rulers. All their kings have fallen, and not one of them calls on me. 8Ephraim mixes himself with the nations; Ephraim is a flat loaf left unturned. 9Foreigners have eaten up his strength, but he does not know it; gray hairs are scattered on his head, but he does not know it. 10Israel’s pride testifies against him, yet they have not returned to the LORD their God or sought him in spite of all this. 11Ephraim has become like a dove, easily fooled and without sense; they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12When they go, I will throw my net over them; I will bring them down like birds from the sky; I will discipline them as their assembly has been told.

13Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Ruin to them, for they have rebelled against me! I would redeem them, but they tell lies about me. 14They do not cry out to me from the heart when they wail on their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine, and turn away from me. 15I trained them and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me. 16They turn, but not to the One above; they are like a bow that will not shoot true. Their officials will fall by the sword because of their insolent tongues. For this they will be laughed at in the land of Egypt.