HOSEA 7 (NIV)
- whenever I would heal Isarel, the sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed. They practice deceit, thieves break into houses, bandits rob in the streets;
- but they do not realize that I remember all their evil deeds. Their sins engulf them; they are always before me.
- "They delight the kign with their wickedness, the princes with their lies.
- They are all adulterers, burning like an oven whose fire the baker need not stir from the kneading of the dough till it rises.
- On the day of the festival of our king the princes become inflamed with wine, and he joins hands with the mockers.
- Their hearts are like an oven; they approach him with intritue. Their passion smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
- All of them nare hot as an oven; they devour their rulers. All their kings fall, and none of them calls on me.
- "Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is a flat cake not turned over.
- Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice.
- Israel's arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the LORD his God or search for him.
- "Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless - now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.
- When they go, I will throw my net over them; I will pull them down like birds of the air. When I hear them flocking together, I will catch them.
- Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak lies against me.
- They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from me.
- I trained them and strengthened them, but they plot against me.
- They do not turn to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their insolent words. For this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.
