Hosea 7
New International Reader's Version
7 I would like to heal Israel.
But when I try to, Ephraim’s sins
are brought out into the open.
The crimes of Samaria
are made known to everyone.
The people tell lies.
They break into houses and steal.
They rob others in the streets.
2 But they do not realize
that I remember all the evil things they do.
Their sins pile up and cover them.
I am always aware of their sins.
3 “Their evil conduct even makes the king glad.
Their lies make the princes happy.
4 But all the people are unfaithful to the king.
Their anger against him burns
like the coals in an oven.
The baker does not even need to stir up the fire
until the dough is ready.”
5 On special days to honor our king,
the princes get drunk with wine.
And the king enjoys the party.
He joins hands with those
who pretend to be faithful to him.
6 Their hearts are as hot as an oven.
They make evil plans to get rid of him.
Their anger burns like a slow fire all night.
In the morning it blazes out like a flaming fire.
7 All of them are as hot as an oven.
They destroy their rulers.
All their kings fall from power.
But none of them calls on the Lord for help.
8 The people of Ephraim mix with the nations.
They are like a thin loaf of bread
that is baked on only one side.
9 People from other lands make them weaker and weaker.
But they don’t realize it.
Their hair is becoming gray.
But they don’t even notice it.
10 The pride of Israel proves that they are guilty.
But in spite of everything,
they don’t return to the Lord their God.
They don’t go to him for help.
11 The Lord says,
“The people of Ephraim are like a dove.
They are easily tricked.
They do not have any sense at all.
First they call out to Egypt for help.
Then they turn to Assyria.
12 When they send for help,
I will throw my net over them.
I will capture them like the birds in the sky.
When I hear them gathering like birds,
I will catch them.
13 How terrible it will be for them!
They have wandered away from me.
So they will be destroyed.
That’s because they have refused to obey me.
I long to save them.
But they tell lies about me.
14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts.
Instead, they just lie on their beds and sob.
They cut themselves when they pray to their gods
for grain and fresh wine.
But they turn away from me.
15 I brought them up and made them strong.
But they make evil plans against me.
16 I am the Most High God. But they do not turn to me.
They are like a bow that does not shoot straight.
Their leaders will be killed by swords.
They will die because they have spoken too proudly.
The people of Egypt
will make fun of them.”
Hosea 7
Lexham English Bible
7 when I would heal Israel,
and the corruption of Ephraim is revealed,
and the wicked deeds of Samaria;
because they deal in falsehood,
the thief breaks in,[a]
and the bandit raids the outside.
2 But they did not consider[b]
that I remember all their wickedness.
Now their deeds surround them;
they are before my face.
3 By their wickedness they make the king glad,
and the officials by their treacheries.
4 All of them commit adultery,
like a burning oven
whose baker has stopped from stirring the fire,
and from kneading the dough until it is leavened.
5 On the day of our king, the princes
became sick with the heat of wine;[c]
he stretched out his hand with mockers.
6 Because they are kindled[d] like an oven,
their heart burns within them;
all night their anger smolders,[e]
in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
7 All of them are hot as an oven,
and they devour[f] their rulers.
All their kings have fallen;
there is none who calls to me amongst them.
8 Ephraim mixes himself
with the nations;
Ephraim is a bread cake
not turned over.
9 Foreigners devour[g] his strength,
and he does not know it;
mold[h] is also sprinkled upon him,
and he does not know it.
10 The pride of Israel testifies against him[i]—
they do not return to Yahweh their God;
they do not seek him for all of this.[j]
11 Ephraim was like a dove,
silly, without sense;[k]
they call to Egypt,
they go to Assyria.
12 Just as they go, I will cast my net
over them;
I will bring them down
like the birds[l] of the heavens;[m]
I will discipline them
according to a report to their assembly.[n]
13 Woe to them, because they have strayed from me!
Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me!
I myself would redeem them,
but they speak lies against me.
14 They do not cry out to me from their heart,
but they wail on their beds;
because of grain and new wine they lacerate[o] themselves;
they depart from me.
15 And I myself trained
and strengthened their arms;
but they plan evil against me.
16 They turn, not to the Most High,[p]
like a slack bow;
their officials will fall by the sword
because of the anger of their tongue.
This is their scorn[q]
in the land of Egypt.
Footnotes
- Hosea 7:1 Or “comes in”
- Hosea 7:2 Literally “But they did not say to their heart”
- Hosea 7:5 This phrase refers to the effects of wine on the body
- Hosea 7:6 Hebrew “they drew near;” other ancient translations read “they are kindled”
- Hosea 7:6 Literally “sleeps”
- Hosea 7:7 Or “they eat”
- Hosea 7:9 Or “Foreigners eat”
- Hosea 7:9 Literally “grey hair,” but in this case the word refers to the “hairs of mold” on food
- Hosea 7:10 Literally “answers against his face”
- Hosea 7:10 Or “in all of this”
- Hosea 7:11 Literally “without heart”
- Hosea 7:12 Hebrew “bird”
- Hosea 7:12 Or “sky”
- Hosea 7:12 Hebrew uncertain
- Hosea 7:14 Or “gash”
- Hosea 7:16 Hebrew uncertain; the NRSV translates “to that which does not profit”; the NASB translates “but not upward”
- Hosea 7:16 The NRSV translates “So much for their babbling”
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