³ “They delight the king with their wickedness,
    the princes with their lies.^(H)
4 They are all adulterers,^(I)
    burning like an oven
whose fire the baker need not stir
    from the kneading of the dough till it rises.
⁵ On the day of the festival of our king
    the princes become inflamed with wine,^(J)
    and he joins hands with the mockers.^(K)
6 Their hearts are like an oven;^(L)
    they approach him with intrigue.
Their passion smolders all night;
    in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
⁷ All of them are hot as an oven;
    they devour their rulers.
All their kings fall,^(M)
    and none of them calls^(N) on me.

⁸ “Ephraim mixes^(O) with the nations;
    Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over.
⁹ Foreigners sap his strength,^(P)
    but he does not realize it.
His hair is sprinkled with gray,
    but he does not notice.
¹⁰ Israel’s arrogance testifies against him,^(Q)
    but despite all this
he does not return^(R) to the Lord his God
    or search^(S) for him.

¹¹ “Ephraim is like a dove,^(T)
    easily deceived and senseless—
now calling to Egypt,^(U)
    now turning to Assyria.^(V)
12 When they go, I will throw my net^(W) over them;
    I will pull them down like the birds in the sky.
When I hear them flocking together,
    I will catch them.
¹³ Woe^(X) to them,
    because they have strayed^(Y) from me!
Destruction to them,
    because they have rebelled against me!
I long to redeem them
    but they speak about me^(Z) falsely.^(AA)
14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts^(AB)
    but wail on their beds.
They slash themselves,^[a] appealing to their gods
    for grain and new wine,^(AC)
    but they turn away from me.^(AD)
15 I trained^(AE) them and strengthened their arms,
    but they plot evil^(AF) against me.
¹⁶ They do not turn to the Most High;^(AG)
    they are like a faulty bow.^(AH)
Their leaders will fall by the sword
    because of their insolent^(AI) words.
For this they will be ridiculed^(AJ)
    in the land of Egypt.^(AK)

⁵ “Will they not return to Egypt^(L)
    and will not Assyria^(M) rule over them
    because they refuse to repent?^(N)
6 A sword^(O) will flash in their cities;
    it will devour^(P) their false prophets
    and put an end to their plans.
⁷ My people are determined to turn^(Q) from me.^(R)
    Even though they call me God Most High,
    I will by no means exalt them.

⁸ “How can I give you up,^(S) Ephraim?^(T)
    How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
    How can I make you like Zeboyim?^(U)
My heart is changed within me;
    all my compassion^(V) is aroused.^(W)
9 I will not carry out my fierce anger,^(X)
    nor will I devastate^(Y) Ephraim again.
For I am God, and not a man^(Z)—
    the Holy One^(AA) among you.
    I will not come against their cities.
¹⁰ They will follow the Lord;
    he will roar^(AB) like a lion.^(AC)
When he roars,
    his children will come trembling^(AD) from the west.^(AE)
11 They will come from Egypt,
    trembling like sparrows,
    from Assyria,^(AF) fluttering like doves.^(AG)
I will settle them in their homes,”^(AH)
    declares the Lord.