"They struckme, [but] I did not becomeill;They beatme, [but] I did not know[it]. Whenshall I awake?I will seekanotherdrink."
And you will be like one who liesdownin the middleof the sea,Or like one who liesdownon the topof a mast.
Like a dogthat returnsto its vomitIs a foolwho repeatshis folly.
Thoughyou pounda foolin a mortarwith a pestlealongwith crushedgrain,[Yet] his foolishnesswill not departfrom him.
Instead, there is gaietyand gladness,Killingof cattleand slaughteringof sheep,Eatingof meatand drinkingof wine:"Let us eatand drink,for tomorrowwe may die."
"Come,"[they say], "let us getwine,and let us drinkheavilyof strongdrink;And tomorrowwill be like today,only moreso."
"I have surelyheardEphraimgrieving,You have chastisedme, and I was chastised,Like an untrainedcalf;Bringme backthat I may be restored,For You are the LORDmy God.
O LORD,do not Your eyes[look] for truth?You have smittenthem, [But] they did not weaken;You have consumedthem, But they refusedto takecorrection.They have madetheir facesharderthanrock;They have refusedto repent.
and they, having become callous,have giventhemselvesoverto sensualityfor the practiceof every kindof impuritywith greediness.
"It shall be when he hearsthe wordsof thiscurse,that he will boast,saying,'I havepeacethoughI walkin the stubbornnessof my heartin orderto destroythe watered[land] with the dry.'
It has happenedto them according to the true proverb,"A DOGRETURNSTO ITS OWNVOMIT,"and, "A sow,after washing,[returns] to wallowingin the mire."
