Hosea 7

1 “When I was healing Israel, Ephraim’s sin was uncovered, along with Samaria’s wickedness. While they craft lying schemes, the thief invades, and the gang of thieves plunders outside.ISV — Hosea 7:1

2 It never occurs to them that I remember all their sin. Now their actions have caught up with them, and they have my attention. ^{a7:2 Lit. they are before my face}ISV — Hosea 7:2

3 They please the king with their evil, and the princes with their dishonesty.ISV — Hosea 7:3

4 All of them are adulterers— they burn like an oven prepared by the baker, who has ceased stoking it until the dough is leavened.ISV — Hosea 7:4

5 “On the king’s festival day the princes got drunk from wine, so the king ^{b7:5 Lit. so he} joined the mockers.ISV — Hosea 7:5

6 For they have stirred up themselves ^{c7:6 Lit. up their heart} like an oven as they lie in ambush. Their baker sleeps through the night; in the morning, the oven ^{d7:6 Lit. morning, it} will be blazing like a fire.ISV — Hosea 7:6

7 They all burn like an oven; they have consumed their judges; all their kings have fallen— not even one of them calls on me.ISV — Hosea 7:7

8 “Ephraim compromises with ^{e7:8 Or dilutes himself among} the nations; he’s a half-baked cake. ^{f7:8 Lit. a cake not turned}ISV — Hosea 7:8

9 Foreigners have consumed his strength, and he hasn’t noticed. Furthermore, his head is sprinkled with gray hair, but he doesn’t realize it.ISV — Hosea 7:9

10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against him; ^{g7:10 Lit. testifies in his face} but they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him in all of this.ISV — Hosea 7:10

11 “Ephraim is also like a silly dove, lacking sense: ^{h7:11 Lit. heart} They call out to Egypt, and turn toward Assyria.ISV — Hosea 7:11

12 When they go, I’ll cast my net over them. I’ll bring them down, as one shoots ^{i7:12 The Heb. lacks one shoots} birds in the sky. I’ll chasten them, as the assembly has already heard.ISV — Hosea 7:12

13 Woe to them— because they have run away from me. Ruin to them— because they have sinned against me. Even though I redeemed them, they spread lies against me.ISV — Hosea 7:13

14 They will not cry to me from their heart— instead, they wail on their beds. They gather together to eat and drink, ^{j7:14 Lit. together for grain and fresh wine} turning away from me.ISV — Hosea 7:14

15 “Though I have taught them and strengthened their arms, nevertheless they plot evil against me.ISV — Hosea 7:15

16 They return—but not to the Most High. They are like a defective weapon. ^{k7:16 Lit. bow} Their princes will fall by the sword because of their raging tongue, and they will be a laughingstock in the land of Egypt.”ISV — Hosea 7:16