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.