Hosea 7

1When I would heal Israel, then is the iniquity of Ephraim uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and the thief entereth in, and the troop of robbers ravageth without.

1Whenever I would heal Israel, the sins of Ephraim and the crimes of Samaria are exposed; they practice deceit, thieves break into houses, and gangs of robbers raid the streets.

2And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now have their own doings beset them about; they are before my face.

2They don't realize that I remember all their evil deeds. Their sins surround them everywhere; they are right in front of my face.

3They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

3They make the king happy with their wickedness and the officials glad with their lies.

4They are all adulterers; they are as an oven heated by the baker; he ceaseth to stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough, until it be leavened.

4They are all unfaithful people, burning with passion like a baker’s oven that doesn't need to be stirred from the time the dough is kneaded until it rises.

5On the day of our king the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with scoffers.

5On the festival day of our king, the officials get sick from the heat of too much wine, and the king joins hands with those who mock God.

6For they have made ready their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.

6Their hearts are like an oven as they approach with their plots. Their anger smolders all night, and in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

7They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.

7All of them are as hot as an oven; they consume their leaders. All their kings fall, yet not one of them calls out to me for help.

8Ephraim, he mixeth himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

8Ephraim mixes himself with the godless nations; Ephraim is like a flat cake that was never turned over and is burned on one side.

9Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, and he knoweth it not.

9Foreign nations have drained his strength, but he doesn't even realize it; his hair is turning gray, but he doesn't notice his own decay.

10And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: yet they have not returned unto Jehovah their God, nor sought him, for all this.

10The pride of Israel testifies against him, yet for all this, they do not return to the LORD their God or even look for him.

11And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria.

11Ephraim is like a senseless, silly dove—first calling to Egypt for help, then running to Assyria.

12When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the birds of the heavens; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.

12As they go, I will throw my net over them; I will pull them down like birds from the sky. I will punish them as they have been warned in their own assembly.

13Woe unto them! for they have wandered from me; destruction unto them! for they have trespassed against me: though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

13Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction is coming to them because they rebelled against me! I wanted to rescue them, but they speak lies about me.

14And they have not cried unto me with their heart, but they howl upon their beds: they assemble themselves for grain and new wine; they rebel against me.

14They do not cry out to me from their hearts, even though they wail on their beds; they gather together only to beg for grain and new wine, while they turn away from me.

15Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet do they devise mischief against me.

15Even though I trained them and made their arms strong, they plot evil against me.

16They return, but not to him that is on high; they are like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

16They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a broken bow that misses the mark. Their leaders will die by the sword because of their angry insults, and because of this, they will be mocked in the land of Egypt.