“Ephraim mixes(A) with the nations;
    Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over.
Foreigners sap his strength,(B)
    but he does not realize it.
His hair is sprinkled with gray,
    but he does not notice.
10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against him,(C)
    but despite all this
he does not return(D) to the Lord his God
    or search(E) for him.

11 “Ephraim is like a dove,(F)
    easily deceived and senseless—
now calling to Egypt,(G)
    now turning to Assyria.(H)
12 When they go, I will throw my net(I) 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(J) to them,
    because they have strayed(K) from me!
Destruction to them,
    because they have rebelled against me!
I long to redeem them
    but they speak about me(L) falsely.(M)
14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts(N)
    but wail on their beds.
They slash themselves,[a] appealing to their gods
    for grain and new wine,(O)
    but they turn away from me.(P)
15 I trained(Q) them and strengthened their arms,
    but they plot evil(R) against me.
16 They do not turn to the Most High;(S)
    they are like a faulty bow.(T)
Their leaders will fall by the sword
    because of their insolent(U) words.
For this they will be ridiculed(V)
    in the land of Egypt.(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 7:14 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts They gather together

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.

11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.

13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.

15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.

16 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.

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“Ephraim (A)has mixed himself among the peoples;
Ephraim is a cake unturned.
(B)Aliens have devoured his strength,
But he does not know it;
Yes, gray hairs are here and there on him,
Yet he does not know it.
10 And the (C)pride of Israel testifies to his face,
But (D)they do not return to the Lord their God,
Nor seek Him for all this.

Futile Reliance on the Nations

11 “Ephraim(E) also is like a silly dove, without [a]sense—
(F)They call to Egypt,
They go to (G)Assyria.
12 Wherever they go, I will (H)spread My net on them;
I will bring them down like birds of the air;
I will chastise them
(I)According to what their congregation has heard.

13 “Woe to them, for they have fled from Me!
Destruction to them,
Because they have transgressed against Me!
Though (J)I redeemed them,
Yet they have spoken lies against Me.
14 (K)They did not cry out to Me with their heart
When they wailed upon their beds.

“They [b]assemble together for grain and new (L)wine,
[c]They rebel against Me;
15 Though I disciplined and strengthened their arms,
Yet they devise evil against Me;
16 They return, but not [d]to the Most High;
(M)They are like a treacherous bow.
Their princes shall fall by the sword
For the (N)cursings of their tongue.
This shall be their derision (O)in the land of Egypt.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 7:11 Lit. heart
  2. Hosea 7:14 So with MT, Tg.; Vg. thought upon; LXX slashed themselves for (cf. 1 Kin. 18:28)
  3. Hosea 7:14 So with MT, Syr., Tg.; LXX omits They rebel against Me; Vg. They departed from Me
  4. Hosea 7:16 Or upward