Ephraim’s Sin
1 When I would heal Israel,
The sin (guilt) of Ephraim is uncovered,
And the wickedness ofSamaria,
Because they practice false dealing;
The thief enters,
Bandits ravageandraid outside.
2 But they do not consider in their hearts (minds)
That I remember [always] all their wickedness.
Now their deeds surroundandentangle them;
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;
Like the heat of an oven
When the baker ceases to stirthe fire,[their passion smolders]
From the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.
5 On the [special] day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine;
The king stretched out his hand [in association] with scoffers (lawless people).
6 As they approach their plotting,
Their mind burns [with intrigue] like an oven [while they lie in wait].
Their anger smolders all night;
In the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
7 They are all hot like an oven
And they consume their judges (rulers);
All their kings have fallen.
There is no one among them who calls to Me.
8 Ephraim mixes himself with the [Gentile] nations [seeking favor with one country, then another];
Ephraim is a cake not turned [worthless; ready to be thrown away].
9 Strangers have devoured his strength,
Yet he does not know it;
Gray hairs are sprinkled on him,
Yet he does not know.
10 Though the pride of Israel testifies against him,
Yet they do not return [in repentance] to the Lordtheir God,
Nor seeknorsearch fornordesire Him [as essential] in spite of all this.
11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without heartorgood sense;
They call to Egypt [for help], they go to Assyria.
12 When they go, I will spread My net over them;
I will bring them down like birds of the heavens [into Assyrian captivity].
I will chastise them in accordance with the proclamation (prophecy) to their congregation.
13 Woe (judgment is coming) to them, for they have wandered away from Me!
Devastation is theirs, because they have rebelledandtrespassed against Me!
I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me.
14 They do not cry out to Me from their heart
When they wail on their beds [in unbelieving despair];
For the sake of grain and new wine theyassemble themselves [as if worshiping Baal];
They rebel against Me.
15 Although I trained and strengthened their arms [for victory over their enemies],
Yet they devise evil against Me.
16 They turn, but they do not turn upward to the Most High.
They are like a poorly crafted bow [that misses the mark];
Their princes shall fall by the sword
Because of the insolence of their tongue.
Thiswill because for their mockeryanddisdain in the land of Egypt.