Hosea 7

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Whenever I would heal Israel, I am confronted by the guilt of Ephraim and the evil-doings of Samaria;for deceit is their principle of behaviour; the thief breaks into the house, marauders raid in the open;	1 When I was willing to heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the malice of Samaria, for they had been manufacturing lies. And the thief steals from inside, the robber from outside.
2 and they never pause to consider that I remember al their wicked deeds; and now their own deeds hemthem in and stare me in the face.	2 And, so that they may not say in their hearts that I am the one who has called to mind all of their wickedness: now their own inventions have encircled them. These things have happened in my presence.
3 They amuse the king with their wickedness and the chief men with their lies.	3 The king has rejoiced at their wickedness, and the leaders have rejoiced in their lies.
4 They are al adulterers, hot as an oven which the baker need not stoke from the time he has kneadedthe dough until it rises.	4 They are all adulterers; like an oven heating up before baking, the city rested a little before the leaven was mixed in, until the whole was leavened.
5 At the holiday for our king, the ministers become inflamed with wine, while he accepts the homage ofpeople	5 On the day of our king, the leaders began to be mad with wine; he extended his hand with those who fabricate illusions.
6 who laugh at him. Their hearts are like an oven as they plot, all night their passion slumbers, then in themorning it bursts into flame;	6 For they have used their heart like an oven, while he laid snares for them; he slept through the night baking them, and by morning he himself was heated like a burning fire.
7 yes, al of them as hot as ovens, they consume their rulers. All their kings have fal en thus, not one ofthem has ever cal ed on me.	7 They have all become hot like an oven, and they have devoured their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one who calls to me among them.
8 Ephraim mixes with the nations. Ephraim is a half-baked cake.	8 Ephraim himself has been mingled with the nations. Ephraim has become like bread, baked under ashes, that has not been turned over.
9 Foreigners have eaten his strength away but he is unconscious of it; even his hair is turning grey but heis unconscious of it.	9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he did not know it. And grey hairs also have spread across him, and he is ignorant of it.
10 (Israel's arrogance is his own accuser; but they do not come back to Yahweh their God or seek him,despite al this.)	10 And the pride of Israel will be brought low before his face, for they have not returned to the Lord their God, nor have they sought him in all of this.
11 Ephraim is like a silly, witless pigeon cal ing on Egypt, turning to Assyria.	11 And Ephraim has become like a pigeon that has been led astray, not having a heart; for they called upon Egypt, they went to the Assyrians.
12 Wherever they turn, I shal spread my net over them, I shal bring them down like the birds of the sky, Ishall punish them for their perversity.	12 And when they will set out, I will spread my net over them. I will pull them down like the birds of the sky; I will cut them down in accordance with the reports of their meetings.
13 Woe to them for having fled from me! Ruin seize them for having wronged me! I have rescued themagain and again and they have only told lies about me.	13 Woe to them, for they have withdrawn from me. They will waste away because they have been dishonest with me. And I redeemed them, and they have spoken lies against me.
14 Theirs is no heartfelt cry to me when they lament on their beds; when they gash themselves over thegrain and new wine, they are stil rebelling against me.	14 And they have not cried out to me in their heart, but they howled on their beds. They have obsessed about wheat and wine; they have withdrawn from me.
15 Though I supported and gave strength to their arms, they plan how to hurt me.	15 And I have educated them, and I have reinforced their arms; and they have imagined evil against me.
16 They turn to what does not exist, they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders wil fal by the swordbecause of their arrogant talk; how they wil be laughed at in Egypt!	16 They returned so that they might be without a yoke. They have become like a deceitful bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of the madness of their words. This is their derision in the land of Egypt.