Israel’s Punishment

1Do not rejoice, O Israel,

with exultation like the nations,

for you have played the harlot against your God;

you have made love for hire on every threshing floor.

2The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them,

and the new wine will fail them.

3They will not remain

in the land of the LORD;

Ephraima will return to Egypt

and eat unclean food in Assyria.

4They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD,

and their sacrifices will not please Him,

but will be to them like the bread of mourners;

all who eat will be defiled.

For their bread will be for themselves;

it will not enter the house of the LORD.

5What will you do on the appointed day,

on the day of the LORD’s feast?

6For even if they flee destruction,

Egypt will gather them

and Memphis will bury them.

Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles,

and thorns will overrun their tents.

7The days of punishment have come;

the days of retribution have arrived—

let Israel know it.

The prophet is called a fool,

and the inspired man insane,

because of the greatness

of your iniquity and hostility.

8The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman,

along with my God,b

yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths.

Hostility is in the house of his God!

9They have deeply corrupted themselves

as in the days of Gibeah;

He will remember their guilt;

He will punish their sins.

10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness.

I saw your fathers as the firstfruits

of the fig tree in its first season.

But they went to Baal-peor,

and consecrated themselves to Shame;

so they became as detestable

as the thing they loved.

11Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird,

with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception.

12Even if they raise their children,

I will bereave them of each one.

Yes, woe be to them

when I turn away from them!

13I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre,

planted in a meadow.

But Ephraim will bring out

his children for slaughter.

14Give them, O LORD—

what will You give?

Give them wombs that miscarry

and breasts that dry up!

15All their evil appears at Gilgal,

for there I hated them.

I will drive them from My house

for the wickedness of their deeds.

I will no longer love them;

all their leaders are rebellious.

16Ephraim is struck down;

their root is withered;

they cannot bear fruit.

Even if they bear children,

I will slay the darlings of their wombs.

17My God will reject them

because they have not obeyed Him;

and they shall be wanderers

among the nations.