1 W hen I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they practise falsehood; and the thief entereth in, the troop of robbers assaileth 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 A nd they say not in their hearts I remember all their wickedness: now do their own doings encompass 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 all practise adultery, as an oven heated by the baker: he ceaseth from stirring after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be 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 I n the day of our king, the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine: he stretched out his hand to scorners.

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 applied their heart like an oven to their lying in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth like 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 that calleth unto 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, he mixeth himself with 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 knoweth not; yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, and he knoweth not.

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 testifieth to his face; and they do not return to Jehovah their God, nor seek him for 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 A nd Ephraim is become like a silly dove without 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 W hen they go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowl of the heavens; I will chastise them, according as their assembly hath heard.

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 unto them! for they have wandered from me; destruction unto them! for they have transgressed against me. And I would redeem them; but they speak 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 A nd they cried not unto me in their heart, when they howled upon their beds; they assemble themselves for corn and new wine; they have turned aside from 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 I have indeed trained, I have strengthened their arms, but they imagine mischief against me.

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

16 T hey return, not to the High: they are like a deceitful bow. Their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision 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.