Ephraim's Iniquity

1When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief comes in, and the troop of robbers spoils without.

2And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.

3They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

4They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceases from raising after he has kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.

5In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

6For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleeps all the night; in the morning it burns as a flaming fire.

7They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calls to me.

8Ephraim, he has mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

9Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not: yes, gray hairs are here and there on him, yet he knows not.

10And the pride of Israel testifies to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.

11Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

12When they shall go, I will spread my net on them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard.

13Woe to them! for they have fled from me: destruction to them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

14And they have not cried to me with their heart, when they howled on their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.

15Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.

16They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.