Ephraim’s Iniquity

1As I healed to Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered, and the evils of Shomeron: for they did falsehood, and the thief will come in, and the troop invaded without.

2And they will not say to their heart, I remembered all their evil: now their doings surrounded them; they were before my face.

3By their evil they will gladden the king, and the chiefs by their falsehoods.

4All of them committing adultery, as an oven set on fire from baking; he will cease from raising from kneading the dough till its leavening.

5The day of our king the chiefs began anger from wine; stretching forth his hand with mockers.

6For they drew near their heart as a furnace in their lying in wait: all the night their baker slept; in the morning it burnt as the fire of flame.

7They were all hot as a furnace, and they consumed their judges; all their kings fell: none among them calling to me.

8Ephraim will mingle himself among my people; Ephraim was a cake not turned.

9Strangers consumed his strength, and he knew not: also grayness of hair was sprinkled upon him, and he knew not.

10And the pride of Israel was humbled in his face: and they turned not back to Jehovah their God. And sought him not in all this.

11And Ephraim will be as an enticed dove, not a heart: they called Egypt, they went to Assur.

12When they shall go I will spread my net upon them; as birds of the heavens I will bring them down; I will correct them when hearing to their assembly.

13Wo! to them, for they fled from me: destruction to them because they transgressed against me: and I will redeem them and they spake falsehoods against me.

14And they cried not to me in their heart, for they shall wail upon their beds: for corn and new wine they will assemble themselves together; they will turn aside against me.

15And I corrected and strengthened their arms, and they will purpose evil against me.

16They will turn back not to the Highest: they were as a bow of deceit: their chiefs shall fall by the sword from the wrath of their tongue: this their derision in the land of Egypt.