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Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution; their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
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Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them.
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Punishment for Israel
Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful to your God; you love the wages of a prostitute at every threshing floor.
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Even if they escape from destruction, Egypt will gather them, and Memphis will bury them. Their treasures of silver will be taken over by briers, and thorns will overrun their tents.
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Even if they rear children, I will bereave them of every one. Woe to them when I turn away from them!
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Ephraim is blighted, their root is withered, they yield no fruit. Even if they bear children, I will slay their cherished offspring.”
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Then they will say, “We have no king because we did not revere the Lord. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?”
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My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them.
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Israel’s Sin
Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, Israel with deceit. And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful Holy One.
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“I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed festivals.
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Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep.
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“But I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.
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even though he thrives among his brothers. An east wind from the Lord will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures.
