Chapter 07  Falsehood

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.

Chapter 8