1 “ 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.

When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, also the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and the thief enters in, and the gang of robbers ravages outside.

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

They don’t consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their own deeds have engulfed them. They are before my face.

3 T hey make the king glad with their wrong-doing, and the leaders with their lies.

They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

4 N one 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.

They are all adulterers. They are burning like an oven that the baker stops stirring, from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened.

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

On the day of our king, the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine. He joined his hand with mockers.

6 T heir 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.

For they have prepared their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their baker sleeps all the night. In the morning it burns as a flaming fire.

7 A ll 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

They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one among them who calls to me.

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

Ephraim, he mixes himself among the nations. Ephraim is a pancake not turned over.

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

Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn’t realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn’t realize it.

10 I srael’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.

The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they haven’t returned to Yahweh their God, nor sought him, for all this.

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

“Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria.

12 W hen 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.

When they go, I will spread my net on them. I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard.

13 I t 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.

Woe to them! For they have wandered from me. Destruction to them! For they have trespassed against me. Though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

14 T hey 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.

They haven’t cried to me with their heart, but they howl on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and new wine. They turn away from me.

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

Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me.

16 T hey 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.

They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a faulty bow. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.