God would heal Israel, but its sins are exposed. The leaders are like an oven heated by baking, and Ephraim is a cake not turned and a silly dove, turning to Egypt and Assyria. They do not cry to God from the heart.
1 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 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 make the king glad with their wickedness , and the princes with their lies .
4 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 In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine ; he stretched out his hand with scorners .
6 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 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 , he hath mixed himself among the people ; Ephraim is a cake not turned .
9 Strangers have devoured his strength , and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
10 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 also is like a silly dove without heart : they call to Egypt , they go to Assyria .
12 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 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 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 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms , yet do they imagine mischief against me.
16 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 .