Hosea 7:1-12

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

7 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 outside.^(A)
2 But they do not consider
    that I remember all their wickedness.
Now their deeds surround them;
    they are before my face.^(B)
3 By their wickedness they make the king glad,
    and the officials by their treachery.
⁴ They are all adulterers;
    they are like a heated oven
whose baker does not need to stir the fire
    from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.^(C)
5 On the day of our king the officials
    became sick with the heat of wine;
    he stretched out his hand with mockers.^(D)
6 For they are kindled^[a] like an oven; their heart burns within them;
    all night their anger smolders;
    in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
⁷ All of them are hot as an oven,
    and they devour their rulers.
All their kings have fallen;
    none of them calls upon me.^(E)

⁸ Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples;
    Ephraim is a cake not turned.
⁹ Foreigners devour his strength,
    but he does not know it;
gray hairs are sprinkled upon him,
    but he does not know it.^(F)
10 Israel’s pride testifies against^[b] him;
    yet they do not return to the Lord their God
    or seek him, for all this.^(G)