Hosea

¹ 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 that I remember all their evil deeds. Their sins engulf them; they are always before me.

³ the princes with their lies.

⁴ burning like an oven whose fire the baker need not stir from the kneading of the dough till it rises.

⁵ the princes become inflamed with wine, and he joins hands with the mockers.

⁶ they approach him with intrigue. Their passion smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

⁷ they devour their rulers. All their kings fall, and none of them calls on me.

⁸ Ephraim is a flat cake not turned over.

⁹ but he does not realize it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice.

¹⁰ but despite all this he does not return to the Lord his God or search for him.

¹¹ easily deceived and senseless— now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.

¹² I will pull them down like birds of the air. When I hear them flocking together, I will catch them.

¹³ 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.

¹⁴ but wail upon their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from me.

¹⁵ but they plot evil against me.

¹⁶ 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.