Dual Panel1when I am minded to heal Israel, the guilt of Ephraim stands revealed, the wickedness of Samaria. They have not kept faith; they are thieves breaking into houses, bandits raiding in the countryside,
2unaware that I have their wickedness ever in mind. Now their misdeeds encircle them; they are ever before my eyes.
3They divert the king with their wickedness and princes with their treachery.
4All of them are adulterers; they are like an oven fire which the baker does not have to stir from the kneading of the dough until it has risen.
5On their king's festal day the courtiers become inflamed with wine, and he himself joins with arrogant men;
6their hearts are heated like an oven by their intrigues. During the night their passion slumbers, but in the morning it flares up like a blazing fire;
7they are all as heated as an oven and devour their rulers. King after king falls from power, but not one of them calls to me.
8Ephraim is mixed up with aliens; he is like a cake half done.
9Foreigners feed on his strength, but he is unaware; grey hairs may come on him, but he is unaware.
10Israel's arrogance openly indicts them; but they do not return to the LORD their God nor, in spite of everything, do they seek him.
11Ephraim is like a silly, senseless pigeon, now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria for help.
12Wherever they turn, I shall cast my net over them and bring them down like birds; I shall take them captive when I hear them gathering.
13Woe betide them, for they have strayed from me! May disaster befall them for rebelling against me! I long to deliver them, but they tell lies about me.
14There is no sincerity in their cry to me; for all their wailing on their beds and gashing of themselves over grain and new wine, they are turning away from me.
15Though I support and strengthen them, they plot evil against me.
16Like a bow gone slack, they relapse into useless worship; their leaders will fall by the sword because of their angry talk. There will be derision at them in Egypt.