Capítulo 7

1 - 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;

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

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

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.

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

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

8 - "Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over.

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

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

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

12 - When they go, I will throw my net over them; I will pull them down like the birds in the sky. When I hear them flocking together, I will catch them.

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 about me falsely.

14 - They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail on their beds. They slash themselves, Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts [They gather together] appealing to their gods for grain and new wine, but they turn away from me.

15 - I trained them and strengthened their arms, but they plot evil against me.

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.