Ephraim’s Iniquity 1 AKJV When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief comes in, and the troop of robbers spoils without. BSB BSB: When I heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim will be exposed, as well as the crimes of Samaria. For they practice deceit and thieves break in; bandits raid in the streets.
2 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: But they fail to consider in their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds are all around them; they are before My face.
3 AKJV They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. BSB BSB: They delight the king with their evil, and the princes with their lies.
4 AKJV They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceases from raising after he has kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. BSB BSB: They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by a baker who needs not stoke the fire from the kneading to the rising of the dough.
5 AKJV In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners. BSB BSB: The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him.
6 AKJV For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleeps all the night; in the morning it burns as a flaming fire. BSB BSB: For they prepare their heart like an oven while they lie in wait; all night their anger smolders; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
7 AKJV They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calls to me. BSB BSB: All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings fall; not one of them calls upon Me.
8 AKJV Ephraim, he has mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. BSB BSB: Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake.
9 AKJV Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not: yes, gray hairs are here and there on him, yet he knows not. BSB BSB: Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.
10 AKJV And the pride of Israel testifies to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this. BSB BSB: Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to the LORD their God; despite all this, they do not seek Him.
11 AKJV Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. BSB BSB: So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove—calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.
12 AKJV When they shall go, I will spread my net on them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard. BSB BSB: As they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the air. I will chastise them when I hear them flocking together.
13 AKJV Woe to them! for they have fled from me: destruction to them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. BSB BSB: Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against Me! Though I would redeem them, they speak lies against Me.
14 AKJV And they have not cried to me with their heart, when they howled on their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me. BSB BSB: They do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me.
15 AKJV Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me. BSB BSB: Although I trained and strengthened their arms, they plot evil against Me.
16 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.