7:1 WHEN I would heal Israel, then Ephraim's guilt is uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria; how they practice falsehood, and the thief enters and the troop of bandits ravage {and} raid without. |
7:2 But they do not consider {and} say to their minds {and} hearts that I [earnestly] remember all their wickedness. Now their own doings surround and entangle them; they are before My face. |
7:3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. |
7:4 They are all [idolatrous] adulterers; their passion smolders like heat of an oven when the baker ceases to stir the fire from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened. |
7:5 On the [special] day of our king the princes made themselves {and} him sick with the heat of wine; [the king] stretched out his hand with scoffers {and} lawless men. |
7:6 For they have made ready their heart, {and} their mind burns [with intrigue] like an oven while they lie in wait. Their anger smolders all night; in the morning it blazes forth as a flaming fire. |
7:7 They are all hot as an oven and devour their judges; all their kings are fallen; there is none among them who calls to Me. |
7:8 Ephraim mixes himself among the peoples [courting the favor of first one country, then another]; Ephraim is a cake not turned. |
7:9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not; yes, gray hairs are sprinkled here and there upon him, and he does not know it. |
7:10 And the pride of Israel testifies against him {and} to his face. But they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek {nor} inquire of {nor} require Him in spite of all this. |
7:11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart {or} understanding; they call to Egypt; they go to Assyria. |
7:12 As they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the heavens. I will chastise them according to the announcement [or prediction made] to their congregation [in the Scriptures]. |
7:13 Woe to them, for they have wandered from Me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled {and} trespassed against Me! Though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against Me. |
7:14 They do not cry to Me from their heart, but they wail upon their beds; they gash {and} distress {and} assemble themselves [in mourning] for grain and new wine; they rebel against Me. |
7:15 Although I have chastened them {and} trained and strengthened their arms, yet they think {and} devise evil against Me. |
7:16 They turn back, shift, {or} change, but not upwards [to the Most High]. They are like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for the insolence {and} rage of their tongue. This shall be [cause for] their derision {and} scorning in the land of Egypt. |