So Ephraimhas becomelike a sillydove,withoutsense;They callto Egypt,they goto Assyria.
Pul,kingof Assyria,cameagainstthe land,and MenahemgavePula thousandtalentsof silverso that his handmight be with him to strengthenthe kingdomunder his rule.
So Ahazsentmessengersto Tiglath-pileserkingof Assyria,saying,"I am your servantand your son;comeup and deliverme from the handof the kingof Aramand from the handof the kingof Israel,who are risingup againstme."
He who neglectsdisciplinedespiseshimself,But he who listensto reproofacquiresunderstanding.
Whyis there a pricein the handof a foolto buywisdom,When he hasnosense?
The one who commitsadulterywith a womanis lackingsense;He who would destroyhimselfdoesit.
"But nowwhatare you doing on the roadto Egypt,To drinkthe watersof the Nile?Or whatare you doing on the roadto Assyria,To drinkthe watersof the Euphrates?
"Whydo you goaround somuchChangingyour way?Also,you will be putto shameby EgyptAs you were putto shameby Assyria.
They will cometremblinglike birdsfrom EgyptAnd like dovesfrom the landof Assyria;And I will settlethem in their houses,declaresthe LORD.
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.
"Assyriawill not saveus, We will not rideon horses;Norwill we sayagain,Our god,'To the workof our hands;For in You the orphanfindsmercy."
Harlotry,wineand newwinetakeaway the understanding.
My peopleare destroyedfor lackof knowledge.Becauseyou have rejectedknowledge,I also will rejectyou from being My priest.Since you have forgottenthe lawof your God,I alsowill forgetyour children.
When Ephraimsawhis sickness,And Judahhis wound,Then Ephraimwentto AssyriaAnd sentto KingJareb.But he is unableto healyou, Or to cureyou of your wound.
Their deedswill not allowthem To returnto their God.For a spiritof harlotryis withinthem, And they do not knowthe LORD.
As for My sacrificialgifts,They sacrificethe fleshand eat[it], [But] the LORDhas takennodelightin them. NowHe will remembertheir iniquity,And punish[them] for their sins;They will returnto Egypt.
They will not remainin the LORD'Sland,But Ephraimwill returnto Egypt,And in Assyriathey will eatunclean[food].
For behold,they will gobecauseof destruction;Egyptwill gatherthem up, Memphiswill burythem. Weedswill takeovertheir treasuresof silver;Thorns[will be] in their tents.
"Allthe menalliedwith you Will sendyou forth to the border,And the menat peacewith you Will deceiveyou and overpoweryou. [They who eat] your breadWill setan ambushfor you. (Thereis nounderstandingin him.)
"Behold,I sendyou out as sheepin the midstof wolves;sobe shrewdas serpentsand innocentas doves.
