1“Whenever I would heal Yisra’ĕl, then the crookedness of Ephrayim is uncovered, and the evil deeds of Shomeron. For they have wrought falsehood, and a thief comes in, a band of robbers raids outside.

2“And they do not say to their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their own deeds have surrounded them, they have been before Me.

3“With their evil they make a sovereign glad, and rulers with their lies.

4“All of them are adulterers, as an oven heated by a baker, who ceases stirring the fire after kneading the dough, until it is leavened.

5“In the day of our sovereign rulers became sick, inflamed with wine. He extended his hand with scoffers.

6“For they have drawn near, their heart is like an oven. While they lie in wait all the night their baker sleeps. In the morning it burns like a flaming fire.

7“All of them are as hot as an oven, and they consumed their rulers. All their sovereigns have fallen – not one among them calls on Me.

8“Ephrayim mixes himself among the peoples, Ephrayim has become a cake unturned.

9“Strangers have devoured his strength, but he does not know it. Grey hairs are also sprinkled on him, and he does not know it.

10“And the Excellency of Yisra’ĕl did witness to his face, but they did not return to יהוה their Elohim, nor did they seek Him for all this.

11“And Ephrayim has become a simple dove without heart, they have called on Mitsrayim, they have gone to Ashshur.

12“When they go I spread My net over them, I bring them down like the birds of the heavens, I chastise them as their congregation has heard.

13“Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction to them, because they have transgressed against Me! And I Myself have ransomed them, yet they have spoken falsehoods against Me,

14and did not cry out to Me with their heart when they wailed upon their beds. For grain and new wine they assemble themselves; they turn away from Me.

15“And I instructed, I strengthened their arms, but they plot evil against Me.

16“They return, but not to the Most High. They have been like a slack bow. Their rulers fall by the sword for the cursings of their tongue. This is their scorn in the land of Mitsrayim.