Hosea 7:5-16 ▼

5 On the day of our king The princes make him sick with the heat of wine, He stretcheth out his hand with scorners.

6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait; Their baker sleepeth all the night, In the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.

7 They are all hot as an oven, And devour their judges; All their kings are fallen, There is none among them that calleth unto Me.

8 Ephraim, he mixeth himself with the peoples; Ephraim is become a cake not turned.

9 Strangers have devoured his strength, And he knoweth it not; Yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, And he knoweth it not.

10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face; But they have not returned unto the LORD their God, Nor sought Him, for all this.

11 And Ephraim is become like a silly dove, without understanding; They call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria.

12 Even as they go, I will spread My net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath been made to hear.

13 Woe unto them! for they have strayed from Me; Destruction unto them! for they have transgressed against Me; Shall I then redeem them, Seeing they have spoken lies against Me?

14 And they have not cried unto Me with their heart, Though they wail upon their beds; They assemble themselves for corn and wine, they rebel against Me.

15 Though I have trained and strengthened their arms, Yet do they devise evil against Me.

16 They return, but not upwards; They are become 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.