7:1 "Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people, whenever I would heal Israel, the sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed. They practice deceit, thieves break into houses, bandits rob in the streets;

7:2 but they do not realize that I remember all their evil deeds. Their sins engulf them; they are always before me.

7:3 "They delight the king with their wickedness, the princes with their lies.

7:4 They are all adulterers, burning like an oven whose fire the baker need not stir from the kneading of the dough till it rises.

7:5 On the day of the festival of our king the princes become inflamed with wine, and he joins hands with the mockers.

7:6 Their hearts are like an oven; they approach him with intrigue. Their passion smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

7:7 All of them are hot as an oven; they devour their rulers. All their kings fall, and none of them calls on me.

7:8 "Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is a flat cake not turned over.

7:9 Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice.

7:10 Israel's arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the LORD his God or search for him.

7:11 "Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless--now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.

7:12 When they go, I will throw my net over them; I will pull them down like birds of the air. When I hear them flocking together, I will catch them.

7:13 Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak lies against me.

7:14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from me.

7:15 I trained them and strengthened them, but they plot evil against me.

7:16 They do not turn to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their insolent words. For this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.