Ephraim’s Iniquity

1When I vndertake to make Israel whole, then the vngraciousnesse of Ephraim and the wickednes of Samaria commeth to light: then go they aboute with lyes. At home, they be theues: and without, they fall to robbynge.

2They cosidre not in their hertes, that I remebre all their wickednes. They go aboute wt their owne ynuencios, but I se them wel ynough.

3They make the kinge and the princes, to haue pleasure in their wickednes & lyes.

4All these burne in aduoutry, as it were an ouen yt the baker heateth, whe he hath lefte kneadinge, till the dowe be leuended.

5Euen so goeth it this daye with oure kinges and prynces, for they begynne to be woode droncken thorow wyne: they vse familiarite with soch as disceaue the.

6They with the ymaginacion of their herte are like an oue, their slepe is all ye night like the slepe of a baker, in the mornynge is he as hote as the flame of fyre:

7they are altogether as hote as an ouen. They haue deuoured their owne iudges, all their kinges are falle: yet is there none of the yt calleth vpon me.

8Therfore must Ephraim be mixte amonge ye Heithen. Ephraim is become like a cake, yt no man turneth:

9straungers haue deuoured his strength, yet he regardeth it not: he waxeth ful of gray haires, yet wil he not knowe it:

10& ye pride of Israel is cast downe before their face, yet wil they not turne to the LORDE their God, ner seke him, for all this.

11Ephraim is like a doue, that is begyled, and hath no herte. Now call they vpon the Egipcians, now go they to the Assirians:

12but whyle they be goinge here and there, I shal sprede my net ouer them, & drawe them downe as ye foules of the ayre: and acordinge as they haue bene warned, so will I punysh them.

13Wo be vnto them, for they haue forsake me. They must be destroyed, for they haue set me at naught. I am he that haue redemed them, and yet they dyssemble wt me.

14They call not vpon me with their hartes, but lye youlinge vpon their beddes. Where as they come together, it is but for meate & drincke, and me will they not obeye.

15I haue taught them, and defended their arme, yet do they ymagin myschefe agaynst me.

16They turne them selues, but not a right, & are become as a broken bowe. Their prynces shalbe slayne wt the swearde, for the malice of their tunges, soch blasphemies haue they lerned in the londe of Egipte.