1 Whenever I would heal Israel, the guilt of Ephraim is exposed, along with the wickedness of Samaria. They practice falsehood; thieves break in, and bandits raid outside.

When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.

2 But they fail to consider in their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds surround them; they are before my face.

And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.

3 They please the king with their evil and the princes with their lies.

They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

4 They are all adulterers, burning like an oven heated by the baker, who pauses from stirring the dough until it is leavened.

They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.

5 On the day of our king, the princes became inflamed with wine, and the king stretched out his hand to mockers.

In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

6 Their hearts are like an oven as they plot; all night their anger smolders, in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

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

7 All of them are hot like an oven; they devour their rulers. All their kings fall, and none call on me.

They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.

8 Ephraim mixes himself among the nations; Ephraim is like a flatbread not turned over.

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

9 Foreigners consume his strength, yet he does not realize it. Gray hairs are sprinkled on him, but he does not notice.

Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against him, yet they do not return to the LORD their God or seek him in all this.

And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.

11 Ephraim is like a dove—easily deceived, without understanding. They call to Egypt; they go to Assyria.

Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

12 As they go, I will spread my net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the sky. I will discipline them as their assembly has heard.

When they shall 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 heard.

13 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 about me.

Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail on their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from me.

And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.

15 I disciplined them and strengthened their arms, yet they devise evil against me.

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

16 They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their princes will fall by the sword because of their insolent words. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.

They return, but not to the most High: they are 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.