The Lantern

Hosea7

Ephraim’s Iniquity

When I would heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, and the evils of Samaria — for they work falsehood; and a thief comes in, a raiding band strips outside.

And they do not say to their heart that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds surround them; they are before my face.

With their evil they make a king glad, and with their lies, officials.

They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by the baker, who ceases from stirring the fire from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.

On the day of our king the officials made themselves sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with scoffers.

For they have brought their heart near like an oven in their ambush; all night their baker sleeps; in the morning it burns like a flaming fire.

They are all hot as an oven, and they devour their judges. All their kings have fallen; there is none among them calling to me.

Ephraim mixes himself among the peoples; Ephraim has become a cake not turned.

Strangers have devoured his strength, and he does not know; gray hair is also thrown upon him, and he does not know.

And the pride of Israel answers to his face, and they do not return to the LORD their God, and they do not seek him in all this.

And Ephraim has become like a simple dove without heart — they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

As 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 the report to their congregation.

Woe to them, for they have fled from me! Devastation to them, for they have transgressed against me! And I myself would ransom them, but they have spoken lies against me.

And they have not cried out to me with their heart, but they wail on their beds; for grain and new wine they gather themselves; they turn away from me.

And I disciplined, I strengthened their arms, and against me they devise evil.

They return — not upward; they have become like a deceitful bow. Their officials will fall by the sword for the indignation of their tongue; this will be their derision in the land of Egypt.