When I would healIsrael,The iniquityof Ephraimis uncovered,And the evildeedsof Samaria,For they dealfalsely;The thiefentersin, Banditsraidoutside,
Woeto them, for they have strayedfrom Me! Destructionis theirs, for they have rebelledagainst Me! I would redeemthem, but they speakliesagainstMe.
Whatshall I dowith you, O Ephraim?Whatshall I dowith you, O Judah?For your loyaltyis like a morningcloudAnd like the dewwhich goesaway early.
saying,"Ifyou had knownin thisday,evenyou, the things which make for peace!But nowthey have been hiddenfrom your eyes.
[There is] swearing,deception,murder,stealingand adultery.They employviolence,so that bloodshedfollowsbloodshed.
"O Jerusalem,Jerusalem,[the city] that killsthe prophetsand stonesthosesentto her! How oftenI wantedto gatheryour childrentogether,justas a hen[gathers] her broodunderher wings,and you wouldnot [have it]!
"Jerusalem,Jerusalem,who killsthe prophetsand stonesthosewho are sentto her! How oftenI wantedto gatheryour childrentogether,the waya hengathersher chicksunderher wings,and you were unwilling.
"The statutesof OmriAnd allthe worksof the houseof Ahabare observed;And in their devicesyou walk.ThereforeI will giveyou up for destructionAnd your inhabitantsfor derision,And you will bearthe reproachof My people."
"[As for] those who swearby the guiltof Samaria,Who say,'As your godlives,O Dan,'And, 'As the wayof Beershebalives,'They will falland not riseagain."
EphraimsurroundsMe with liesAnd the houseof Israelwith deceit;Judahis alsounrulyagainstGod,Even againstthe HolyOnewho is faithful.
The inhabitantsof Samariawill fearFor the calfof Beth-aven.Indeed,its peoplewill mournfor it, And its idolatrouspriestswill cryout overit, Overits glory,sinceit has departedfrom it.
For they have goneup to Assyria,[Like] a wilddonkeyall alone;Ephraimhas hiredlovers.
He has rejectedyour calf,O Samaria,[saying], "My angerburnsagainst them!" Howlongwill they be incapableof innocence?
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.
Ephraimis joinedto idols;Lethim alone.
"Their nameswere Oholahthe elderand Oholibahher sister.And they becameMine, and they boresonsand daughters.And [as for] their names,Samariais Oholahand Jerusalemis Oholibah.
"Now your oldersisteris Samaria,who livesnorthof you with her daughters;and your youngersister,who livessouthof you, is Sodomwith her daughters.
We applied healingto Babylon,but she was not healed;Forsakeher and let us eachgoto his own country,For her judgmenthas reachedto heavenAnd towersup to the very skies.
For our transgressionsare multipliedbeforeYou, And our sinstestifyagainst us; For our transgressionsare with us, And we knowour iniquities:
Woeto the proudcrownof the drunkardsof Ephraim,And to the fadingflowerof its gloriousbeauty,Whichis at the headof the fertilevalleyOf those who are overcomewith wine!
"In your filthinessis lewdness.BecauseI [would] have cleansedyou, Yet you are not clean,You will not be cleansedfrom your filthinessagainUntilI have spentMy wrathon you.
Howcan I giveyou up, O Ephraim?How can I surrenderyou, O Israel?Howcan I makeyou like Admah?How can I treatyou like Zeboiim?My heartis turnedoverwithinMe, AllMy compassionsare kindled.
Transgressingand denyingthe LORD,And turningawayfrom our God,Speakingoppressionand revolt,Conceiving[in] and utteringfrom the heartlyingwords.
Justiceis turnedback,And righteousnessstandsfaraway;For truthhas stumbledin the street,And uprightnesscannotenter.
Ephraimfeedson wind,And pursuesthe eastwindcontinually;He multipliesliesand violence.Moreover, he makesa covenantwith Assyria,And oilis carriedto Egypt.
The LORDalso has a disputewith Judah,And will punishJacobaccording to his ways;He will repayhim according to his deeds.
Proclaimon the citadelsin Ashdodand on the citadelsin the landof Egyptand say,"Assembleyourselves on the mountainsof Samariaand see[the] greattumultswithinher and [the] oppressionsin her midst.
"But they do not knowhow to dowhatis right,"declaresthe LORD,"these who hoardup violenceand devastationin their citadels."
