1 ` When I give healing to Israel, Then revealed is the iniquity of Ephraim, And the wickedness of Samaria, For they have wrought falsehood, And a thief doth come in, Stript off hath a troop in the street,

2 A nd they do not say to their heart, all their evil I have remembered, Now compassed them have their doings, Over-against My face they have been.

3 W ith their wickedness they make glad a king, And with their lies -- princes.

4 A ll of them adulterers, Like a burning oven of a baker, He ceaseth from stirring up after kneading the dough, till its leavening.

5 A day of our king! Princes have polluted themselves the poison of wine, He hath drawn out his hand with scorners.

6 F or they have drawn near, As an oven their heart, In their lying in wait all the night sleep doth their baker, Morning! he is burning as a flaming fire.

7 A ll of them are warm as an oven, And they have devoured their judges, All their kings have fallen, There is none calling unto Me among them.

8 E phraim! among peoples he mixeth himself, Ephraim hath been a cake unturned.

9 D evoured have strangers his power, And he hath not known, Also old age hath sprinkled on him, And he hath not known.

10 A nd humbled hath been the excellency of Israel to his face, And they have not turned back unto Jehovah their God, Nor have they sought Him for all this.

11 A nd Ephraim is as a simple dove without heart, Egypt they called on -- Asshur they have gone.

12 W hen they go I spread over them My net, As the fowl of the heavens I bring them down, I chastise them as their company hath heard.

13 W o to them, for they wandered from Me, Destruction to them, for they transgressed against Me, And I -- I ransom them, and they have spoken lies against Me,

14 A nd have not cried unto Me with their heart, but howl on their beds, For corn and new wine they assemble themselves, They turn aside against Me.

15 A nd I instructed -- I strengthened their arms, And concerning Me they think evil!

16 T hey turn back -- not to the Most High, They have been as a deceitful bow, Fall by sword do their princes, From the insolence of their tongue, This their derision in the land of Egypt!