1 W hen I would heal Israel, then Ephraim’s guilt is uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria; how they practice falsehood, and the thief enters and the troop of bandits ravage and raid without.

“Whenever I would heal Israel, I see the sin of Ephraim and the wrong-doing of Samaria. They are false in their ways. The robber breaks into houses, and sinful men rob in the streets.

2 B ut they do not consider and say to their minds and hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their own doings surround and entangle them; they are before My face.

They do not think about how I remember all the sinful things they do. Their sins are all around them, and are always before Me.

3 T hey make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

They make the king glad with their wrong-doing, and the leaders with their lies.

4 T hey are all adulterers; their passion smolders like heat of an oven when the baker ceases to stir the fire from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.

None of them are faithful. They are like a hot stove whose fire the bread-maker leaves alone from the time he makes the dough until the bread rises.

5 O n the day of our king the princes made themselves and him sick with the heat of wine; stretched out his hand with scoffers and lawless men.

On the special day of our king the leaders became drunk with wine. He joined hands with those who laughed at the truth.

6 F or they have made ready their heart, and their mind burns like an oven while they lie in wait. Their anger smolders all night; in the morning it blazes forth as a flaming fire.

Their hearts are like a hot stove as they make their plans. Their anger smokes all night, and in the morning it burns like a hot fire.

7 T hey are all hot as an oven and devour their judges; all their kings are fallen; there is none among them who calls to Me.

All of them are hot like a stove, and they destroy their leaders. All their kings have fallen, and none of them calls to Me for help. Israel Cannot Depend on the Nations

8 E phraim mixes himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

“Ephraim mixes with the nations. Ephraim is a cake not turned.

9 S trangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not; yes, gray hairs are sprinkled here and there upon him, and he does not know it.

Strangers destroy his strength, yet he does not know it. White hairs come upon him, yet he does not know it.

10 A nd the pride of Israel testifies against him and to his face. But they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek nor inquire of nor require Him in spite of all this.

Israel’s pride speaks against him, yet they do not return to the Lord their God. Even for all this, they do not look for Him.

11 E phraim also is like a silly dove without heart or understanding; they call to Egypt; they go to Assyria.

Ephraim is like a foolish dove that is not able to think. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria.

12 A s they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the heavens. I will chastise them according to the announcement to their congregation.

When they go, I will spread My net over them. I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will punish them for the sinful things they have done.

13 W oe to them, for they have wandered from Me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled and trespassed against Me! Though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against Me.

It is bad for them, for they have turned away from Me! They will be destroyed, for they would not obey Me! I would save them and make them free, but they speak lies against Me.

14 T hey do not cry to Me from their heart, but they wail upon their beds; they gash and distress and assemble themselves for grain and new wine; they rebel against Me.

They do not cry out to Me from their heart when they cry on their beds. They come together for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me.

15 A lthough I have chastened them and trained and strengthened their arms, yet they think and devise evil against Me.

I taught them and gave strength to their arms, yet they make sinful plans against Me.

16 T hey turn back, shift, or change, but not upwards. They are like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for the insolence and rage of their tongue. This shall be their derision and scorning in the land of Egypt.

They do not turn to the Most High. They are like a bow that does not work right. Their leaders will be killed by the sword because of their proud words. And those in the land of Egypt will laugh at them.