“1 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was
discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood;
and the thief cometh in, [and] the troop of robbers spoileth without. 2
And they consider not in their hearts [that] I remember all their
wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before
my face. 3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the
princes with their lies. 4 They [are] all adulterers, as an oven heated
by the baker, [who] ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the
dough, until it be leavened. 5 In the day of our king the princes have
made [him] sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with
scorners. 6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles
they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it
burneth as a flaming fire. 7 They are all hot as an oven, and have
devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: [there is] none among
them that calleth unto me.”
“8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake
not turned. 9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth [it]
not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. 10
And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return
to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this. 11 Ephraim also is
like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them
down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their
congregation hath heard. 13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me:
destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though
I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. 14 And they
have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their
beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, [and] they rebel
against me. 15 Though I have bound [and] strengthened their arms, yet do
they imagine mischief against me. 16 They return, [but] not to the most
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.” (Hosea 7:1-16 AV)