Hos 7 | LEB | STEP | when I would heal Israel, and the corruption of Ephraim is revealed, and the wicked deeds of Samaria; because they deal in falsehood, the thief breaks in, and the bandit raids the outside.

‏ Hosea 7

1 when I would heal Israel,
and the corruption of Ephraim is revealed,
and the wicked deeds of Samaria;
because they deal in falsehood,
the thief breaks in, ^{▼▼Or “comes in”}
and the bandit raids the outside.
2 ⌞But they did not consider⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “But they did not say to their heart”}
that I remember all their wickedness.
Now their deeds surround them;
they are before my face.
3 By their wickedness they make the king glad,
and the officials by their treacheries.
4 All of them commit adultery,
like a burning oven
whose baker has stopped from stirring the fire,
and from kneading the dough until it is leavened.
5 On the day of our king, the princes
became sick with the heat of wine; ^{▼▼This phrase refers to the effects of wine on the body}
he stretched out his hand with mockers.
6 Because they are kindled ^{▼▼Hebrew “they drew near;” other ancient translations read “they are kindled”} like an oven,
their heart burns within them;
all night their anger ⌞smolders⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “sleeps”}
in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
7 All of them are hot as an oven,
and they devour ^{▼▼Or “they eat”} their rulers.
All their kings have fallen;
there is none who calls to me amongst them.
8 Ephraim mixes himself
with the nations;
Ephraim is a bread cake
not turned over.
9 Foreigners devour ^{▼▼Or “Foreigners eat”} his strength,
and he does not know it;
⌞mold⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “grey hair,” but in this case the word refers to the “hairs of mold” on food} is also sprinkled upon him,
and he does not know it.
10 The pride of Israel ⌞testifies against him⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “answers against his face”}—
they do not return to Yahweh their God;
they do not seek him for all of this. ^{▼▼Or “in all of this”}
11 Ephraim was like a dove,
silly, ⌞without sense⌟; ^{▼▼Literally “without heart”}
they call to Egypt,
they go to Assyria.
12 Just as they go, I will cast my net
over them;
I will bring them down
like the birds ^{▼▼Hebrew “bird”} of the heavens; ^{▼▼Or “sky”}
I will discipline them
according to a report to their assembly. ^{▼▼Hebrew uncertain}
13 Woe to them, because they have strayed from me!
Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me!
I myself would redeem them,
but they speak lies against me.
14 They do not cry out to me from their heart,
but they wail on their beds;
because of grain and new wine they lacerate ^{▼▼Or “gash”} themselves;
they depart from me.
15 And I myself trained
and strengthened their arms;
but they plan evil against me.
16 They turn, not to the Most High, ^{▼▼Hebrew uncertain; the NRSV translates “to that which does not profit”; the NASB translates “but not upward”}
like a slack bow;
their officials will fall by the sword
because of the anger of their tongue.
This is their scorn ^{▼▼The NRSV translates “So much for their babbling”}
in the land of Egypt.