1When I would heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, and the evils of Samaria; for they have practiced falsehood: a thief breaks in, a raiding band strips outside.
2And they do not say in their heart that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds surround them; they are before my face.
3With their evil they make a king glad, and with their lies the officials.
4They are all adulterers, like an oven burning from the baker; he ceases to stir the fire from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.
5On the day of our king the officials became sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with the mockers.
6For they have made ready their heart like the oven, while they lie in wait; all night their baker sleeps; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
7They are all hot like the oven, and they devour their judges; all their kings have fallen; none among them calls out to me.
8Ephraim mixes himself among the peoples; Ephraim has become a cake not turned.
9Strangers devour his strength, and he does not know it; gray hairs also are scattered upon him, and he does not know it.
10And the pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they do not return to Yahweh their God, nor seek him, for all this.
11And Ephraim has become like a silly dove, without heart: they have called to Egypt, they have gone to Assyria.
12As they go, I will spread my net over them; like the birds of the heavens I will bring them down; I will discipline them according to the report to their assembly.
13Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Devastation to them, for they have rebelled against me! And I would redeem them, yet they speak lies against me.
14And they do not cry to me from their heart, but they wail upon their beds; over grain and new wine they gash themselves; they turn away from me.
15And I, I disciplined, I strengthened their arms, yet against me they devise evil.
16They turn, but not upward; they have become like a slack bow. Their officials shall fall by the sword because of the rage of their tongue; this will be their derision in the land of Egypt.
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