¹When I would heal Israel ,

then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered ,

also the wickedness of Samaria ;

for they commit falsehood ,

and the thief enters in ,

and the gang of robbers ravages outside .

²They don’t consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness .

Now their own deeds have engulfed them .

They are before my face .

³They make the king glad with their wickedness ,

and the princes with their lies .

⁴They are all adulterers .

They are burning like an oven that the baker stops stirring,

from the kneading of the dough , until it is leavened .

⁵On the day of our king , the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine .

He joined his hand with mockers.

⁶For they have prepared their heart like an oven ,

while they lie in wait.

Their anger smoulders all night .

In the morning it burns as a flaming fire.

⁷They are all hot as an oven ,

and devour their judges .

All their kings have fallen .

There is no one amongst them who calls to me .

⁸Ephraim mixes himself amongst the nations .

Ephraim is a pancake not turned over .

⁹Strangers have devoured his strength ,

and he doesn’t realise it .

Indeed , grey hairs are here and there on him ,

and he doesn’t realise it .

¹⁰The pride of Israel testifies to his face ;

yet they haven’t returned to the LORD their God ,

nor sought him , for all this .

¹¹“Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove , without understanding .

They call to Egypt .

They go to Assyria.

¹²When they go , I will spread my net on them .

I will bring them down like the birds of the sky .

I will chastise them , as their congregation has heard .

¹³Woe to them !

For they have wandered from me .

Destruction to them !

For they have trespassed against me .

Though I would redeem them ,

yet they have spoken lies against me .

¹⁴They haven’t cried to me with their heart ,

but they howl on their beds .

They assemble themselves for grain and new wine .

They turn away from me .

¹⁵Though I have taught and strengthened their arms ,

yet they plot evil against me .

¹⁶They return , but not to the Most High .

They are like a faulty bow .

Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue .

This will be their derision in the land of Egypt .