Hosea 7

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
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.	1 When I would restore the fortunes of my people, when I would heal Israel, the corruption of Ephraim is revealed, and the wicked deeds of Samaria; for they deal falsely, the thief breaks in, and the bandits raid without.
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.	2 But they do not consider that I remember all their evil works. Now their deeds encompass them, they are before my face.
3 The king has rejoiced at their wickedness, and the leaders have rejoiced in their lies.	3 By their wickedness they make the king glad, and the princes by their treachery.
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.	4 They are all adulterers; they are like a heated oven, whose baker ceases to stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.
5 On the day of our king, the leaders began to be mad with wine; he extended his hand with those who fabricate illusions.	5 On the day of our king the princes became sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with mockers.
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.	6 For like an oven their hearts burn with intrigue; all night their anger smolders; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
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.	7 All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings have fallen; and none of them calls upon me.
8 Ephraim himself has been mingled with the nations. Ephraim has become like bread, baked under ashes, that has not been turned over.	8 Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
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.	9 Aliens devour his strength, and he knows it not; gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, and he knows it not.
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.	10 The pride of Israel witnesses against him; yet they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him, for all this.
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.	11 Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria.
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.	12 As they go, I will spread over them my net; I will bring them down like birds of the air; I will chastise them for their wicked deeds.
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.	13 Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies 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.	14 They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves, they rebel against me.
15 And I have educated them, and I have reinforced their arms; and they have imagined evil against me.	15 Although I trained and strengthened their arms, yet they devise evil against me.
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.	16 They turn to Baal; they are like a treacherous bow, their princes shall fall by the sword because of the insolence of their tongue. This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.