1 W hen I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.

“When I would have healed Israel, Then the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered, And the wickedness of Samaria. For they have committed fraud; A thief comes in; A band of robbers takes spoil outside.

2 A nd they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.

They do not consider in their hearts That I remember all their wickedness; Now their own deeds have surrounded them; They are before My face.

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

They make a king glad with their wickedness, And princes with their lies.

4 T hey are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.

“They are all adulterers. Like an oven heated by a baker— He ceases stirring the fire after kneading the dough, Until it is leavened.

5 I n the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

In the day of our king Princes have made him sick, inflamed with wine; He stretched out his hand with scoffers.

6 F or they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.

They prepare their heart like an oven, While they lie in wait; Their baker sleeps all night; In the morning it burns like a flaming fire.

7 T hey are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.

They are all hot, like an oven, And have devoured their judges; All their kings have fallen. None among them calls upon Me.

8 E phraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

“Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake unturned.

9 S trangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

Aliens have devoured his strength, But he does not know it; Yes, gray hairs are here and there on him, Yet he does not know it.

10 A nd the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.

And the pride of Israel testifies to his face, But they do not return to the Lord their God, Nor seek Him for all this. Futile Reliance on the Nations

11 E phraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

“Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without sense— They call to Egypt, They go to Assyria.

12 W hen they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.

Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them; I will bring them down like birds of the air; I will chastise them According to what their congregation has heard.

13 W oe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

“Woe to them, for they have fled from Me! Destruction to them, Because they have transgressed against Me! Though I redeemed them, Yet they have spoken lies against Me.

14 A nd they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.

They did not cry out to Me with their heart When they wailed upon their beds. “They assemble together for grain and new wine, They rebel against Me;

15 T hough I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.

Though I disciplined and strengthened their arms, Yet they devise evil against Me;

16 T hey return, but not to the most 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 return, but not to the Most High; They are like a treacherous bow. Their princes shall fall by the sword For the cursings of their tongue. This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.