Hosea 7:5-16 ▼

5 On the day of our king, the princes became sick, raging from the wine; he stretched out his hand with the mockers.

6 For they approach; like an oven is their heart in ambush; all night their baker is sleeping; in the morning it burns like a fire of flame.

7 All of them are hot like an oven, and they devour their judges; all their kings have fallen; no one among them calls to Me.

8 Ephraim, he has mixed himself with the nations; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

9 Strangers have devoured his power, and he does not know; even gray hairs are scattered on him, and he does not know.

10 And the pride of Israel testifies to his face; they do not return to YHWH their God, they do not seek Him in all this.

11 And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without sense; to Egypt they call; to Assyria they go.

12 When they go, I will spread over them My net, like birds of the heavens I will bring them down; I will chastise them according to the report of their congregation.

13 Woe to them, for they have fled from Me! Destruction be to them, because they have transgressed against Me! And though I would redeem them, they have spoken lies against Me.

14 And they did not cry out to Me with their heart, when they wailed upon their beds; they slash themselves for grain and new wine; they rebel against Me.

15 And I disciplined—I strengthened their arms; against Me they devise evil.

16 They return, not to the Most High; they are like a bow of slackness; their princes will fall by the sword, from the insolence of their tongue; this is their derision in the land of Egypt.