Ephraim’s Iniquity 1 Brenton When I have healed Israel, then shall the iniquity of Ephraim be revealed, and the wickedness of Samaria; for they have wrought falsehood: and a thief shall come in to him, even a robber spoiling in his way; 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 Brenton that they may concert together as men singing in their heart: I remember all their wickedness: now have their own counsels compassed them about; they came 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 Brenton They gladdened kings with their wickedness, and princes with their lies. BSB BSB: They delight the king with their evil, and the princes with their lies.
4 Brenton They are all adulterers, as an oven glowing with flame for hot-baking, on account of the kneading of the dough, until it is 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 Brenton In the days of our kings, the princes began to be inflamed with wine: he stretched out his hand with pestilent fellows.BSB BSB: The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him.
6 Brenton Wherefore their hearts are inflamed as an oven, while they rage all the night: Ephraim is satisfied with sleep; the morning is come; he is burnt up as a flame of 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 Brenton They are all heated like an oven, and have devoured their judges: all their kings are fallen; there was not among them one that called on 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 Brenton Ephraim is mixed among his people; Ephraim became a cake not turned. BSB BSB: Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake.
9 Brenton Strangers devoured his strength, and he knew it not; and grey hairs came upon him, and he knew it 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 Brenton And the pride of Israel shall be brought down before his face: yet they have not returned to the Lord their God, neither have they diligently sought 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 Brenton And Ephraim was as a silly dove, not having a heart: he called to Egypt, and they went to the Assyrians. BSB BSB: So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove—calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.
12 Brenton Whenever they shall go, I will cast my net upon them; I will bring them down as the birds of the sky, I will chasten them with the rumour of their coming affliction. 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 Brenton Woe to them! for they have started aside from me: they are cowards; for they have sinned against me: yet I redeemed them, but they spoke falsehoods 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 Brenton And their hearts did not cry to me, but they howled on their beds: they pined for oil and wine. 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 Brenton They were instructed by me, and I strengthened their arms; and they devised evils against me. BSB BSB: Although I trained and strengthened their arms, they plot evil against Me.
16 Brenton They turned aside to that which is not, they became as a bent bow: their princes shall fall by the sword, by reason of the unbridled state of their tongue: this is their setting at nought 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.