1
“When I would heal Yisra’el, then the crookedness of Efrayim is uncovered, and the evils of Shomron, for they practice falsehood. And the thief enters in, and a band raids outside.
2
And they do not say within their heart that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds surround them. They are before My face.
3
With their evil they make the king glad, and with their lies the rulers.
4
They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by a baker, who ceases stirring the fire from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.
5
On the day of our king, the rulers made themselves sick with the heat of wine. He stretched out his hand with mockers.
6
For they have brought near their heart like an oven while they lie in wait. All night their baker sleeps. In the morning it burns like a flaming fire.
7
They are all hot like an oven, and they devour their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is none among them who calls upon Me.
8
Efrayim mixes himself among the peoples. Efrayim has become a cake not turned.
9
Foreigners have devoured his strength, but he does not know it. Gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, but he does not know it.
10
And the pride of Yisra’el testifies to his face. Yet they do not return to Yahuah their Elohim, nor seek Him for all this.
11
And Efrayim has become like a dove, simple, without heart. To Mitzrayim they call; to Ashshur they go.
12
When 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 what was heard in their assembly.
13
Woe to them, for they have wandered from Me. Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against Me. And I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me.
14
And they do not cry to Me from their heart, but they wail upon their beds. For grain and new wine they gather themselves, but they turn aside against Me.
15
Though I disciplined them and strengthened their arms, yet they devise evil against Me.
16
They return, but not to the Most High. They have become like a deceitful bow. Their rulers shall fall by the sword because of the rage of their tongue. This shall be their mockery in the land of Mitzrayim.”