Hosea 7
Israel's Iniquity and
Rebellion |
1 |
When I would have healed Israel, then the
iniquity of E'phra-im was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria:
for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the
troop of robbers spoileth without.
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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.
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3 |
They make the king glad with their
wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
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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.
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5 |
In the day of our king, the princes have
made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand
with scorners.
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6 |
For 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.
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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.
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8 |
E'phra-im, he hath mixed himself among
the people; E'phra-im is a cake not turned.
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9 |
Strangers have devoured his strength, and
he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon
him, yet he knoweth not.
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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.
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11 |
E'phra-im also is like a silly dove
without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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15 |
Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against
me.
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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.
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