The more they multiplied,the morethey sinnedagainst Me; I will changetheir gloryinto shame.
"Sincethe daysof our fathersto thisdaywe [have been] in greatguilt,and on account of our iniquitieswe, our kings[and] our priestshave been giveninto the handof the kingsof the lands,to the sword,to captivityand to plunderand to openshame,as [it is] thisday.
Israelis a luxuriantvine;He producesfruitfor himself. The morehis fruit,The morealtarshe made;The richerhis land,The betterhe madethe [sacred] pillars.
The thing itselfwill be carriedto AssyriaAs tributeto KingJareb;Ephraimwill be seizedwith shameAnd Israelwill be ashamedof its own counsel.
Shall I ransomthem from the powerof Sheol?Shall I redeemthem from death?O Death,whereare your thorns?O Sheol,whereis your sting?Compassionwill be hiddenfrom My sight.
As [they had] their pasture,they becamesatisfied,And beingsatisfied,their heartbecameproud;Thereforethey forgotMe.
They will eat,but not haveenough;They will playthe harlot,but not increase,Becausethey have stoppedgivingheedto the LORD.
Hearthis,O priests!Giveheed,O houseof Israel!Listen,O houseof the king!For the judgmentapplies to you, For you have beena snareat MizpahAnd a netspreadout on Tabor.
And as raiderswaitfor a man,[So] a bandof priestsmurderon the wayto Shechem;Surelythey have committedcrime.
As for Ephraim,their glorywill flyawaylike a bird--Nobirth,nopregnancyand noconception!
"You will be filledwith disgraceratherthanhonor.Nowyou yourselfdrinkand exposeyour [own] nakedness.The cupin the LORD'Srighthandwill comearoundto you, And utterdisgrace[will come] upon your glory.
"So I alsohave madeyou despisedand abasedbefore allthe people,justas you are not keepingMy waysbut are showingpartialityin the instruction.
"But Jeshurungrewfatand kicked--You are grownfat,thick,and sleek--Then he forsookGodwho madehim, And scornedthe Rockof his salvation.
whoseendis destruction,whosegodis [their] appetite,and [whose] gloryis in their shame,who set their mindson earthly things.
"Thereforethe LORDGodof Israeldeclares,I did indeedsaythat your houseand the houseof your fathershould walkbeforeMe forever;but nowthe LORDdeclares,'Farbe it from Me-- for those who honorMe I will honor,and those who despiseMe will be lightlyesteemed.
