Hosea 7:5-16 ▼

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

6 For with hearts like an oven they approach their intrigue; all night their anger smolders; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

7 All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings have fallen, and none of them calls upon me.

8 Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

9 Strangers devour his strength, and he knows it not; gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, and he knows it not.

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

11 Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria.

12 As they go, I will spread over them my net; I will bring them down like birds of the heavens; I will discipline them according to the report made to their congregation.

13 Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me.

14 They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves; they rebel against me.

15 Although I trained and strengthened their arms, yet they devise evil against me.

16 They return, but not upward; they are like a treacherous bow; their princes shall fall by the sword because of the insolence of their tongue. This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.