When I would healIsrael,The iniquityof Ephraimis uncovered,And the evildeedsof Samaria,For they dealfalsely;The thiefentersin, Banditsraidoutside,
Woeto the proudcrownof the drunkardsof Ephraim,And to the fadingflowerof its gloriousbeauty,Whichis at the headof the fertilevalleyOf those who are overcomewith wine!
For our transgressionsare multipliedbeforeYou, And our sinstestifyagainst us; For our transgressionsare with us, And we knowour iniquities:
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.
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.
"Now your oldersisteris Samaria,who livesnorthof you with her daughters;and your youngersister,who livessouthof you, is Sodomwith her daughters.
"Their nameswere Oholahthe elderand Oholibahher sister.And they becameMine, and they boresonsand daughters.And [as for] their names,Samariais Oholahand Jerusalemis Oholibah.
"In your filthinessis lewdness.BecauseI [would] have cleansedyou, Yet you are not clean,You will not be cleansedfrom your filthinessagainUntilI have spentMy wrathon you.
The inhabitantsof Samariawill fearFor the calfof Beth-aven.Indeed,its peoplewill mournfor it, And its idolatrouspriestswill cryout overit, Overits glory,sinceit has departedfrom it.
EphraimsurroundsMe with liesAnd the houseof Israelwith deceit;Judahis alsounrulyagainstGod,Even againstthe HolyOnewho is faithful.
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.
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.
Ephraimis joinedto idols;Lethim alone.
[There is] swearing,deception,murder,stealingand adultery.They employviolence,so that bloodshedfollowsbloodshed.
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.
Whatshall I dowith you, O Ephraim?Whatshall I dowith you, O Judah?For your loyaltyis like a morningcloudAnd like the dewwhich goesaway early.
Woeto them, for they have strayedfrom Me! Destructionis theirs, for they have rebelledagainst Me! I would redeemthem, but they speakliesagainstMe.
He has rejectedyour calf,O Samaria,[saying], "My angerburnsagainst them!" Howlongwill they be incapableof innocence?
For they have goneup to Assyria,[Like] a wilddonkeyall alone;Ephraimhas hiredlovers.
"But they do not knowhow to dowhatis right,"declaresthe LORD,"these who hoardup violenceand devastationin their citadels."
Proclaimon the citadelsin Ashdodand on the citadelsin the landof Egyptand say,"Assembleyourselves on the mountainsof Samariaand see[the] greattumultswithinher and [the] oppressionsin her midst.
"[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."
"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."
"Jerusalem,Jerusalem,who killsthe prophetsand stonesthosewho are sentto her! How oftenI wantedto gatheryour childrentogether,the waya hengathersher chicksunderher wings,and you were unwilling.
"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]!
saying,"Ifyou had knownin thisday,evenyou, the things which make for peace!But nowthey have been hiddenfrom your eyes.
