Hosea 7:5-16 ▼

5 The day they start to give counsel, the princes begin to become inflamed with wine; they stretch out their hands with wicked men.

6 Because their heart is hot like an oven with their plots, all night their anger is suppressed; and in the morning it burns as a flaming fire.

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

8 Ephraim has mixed himself with Gentiles; Ephraim has become as a loaf of bread which is eaten before it is baked.

9 Thus strangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not: yea, gray hairs have grown upon him, yet he knows it not.

10 And the pride of Israel has been humbled in his presence; and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.

11 Ephraim also is like a young dove without understanding; they have come to Egypt, they are gone to Assyria.

12 Wherever they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the air; I will chastise them according to the testimony which is heard against them.

13 Woe to them! for they have fled from me; I will bring misfortune upon them because they have transgressed against me; though I have saved them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, but they howled upon their beds; they quarrel over wheat and wine, and they have rebelled against me.

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

16 They have perverted themselves for nothing; they have become like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword because of the boldness of their tongue; such shall be their entanglement in the land of Egypt.