4They are all adulterers,
         Like an oven heated by the baker
         Who ceases to stir up the fire
         From the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.

5On the day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine;
         He stretched out his hand with scoffers,

6For their hearts are like an oven
         As they approach their plotting;
         Their anger smolders all night,
         In the morning it burns like a flaming fire.

7All of them are hot like an oven,
         And they consume their rulers;
         All their kings have fallen.
         None of them calls on Me.

8Ephraim mixes himself with the nations;
         Ephraim has become a cake not turned.

9Strangers devour his strength,
         Yet he does not know it;
         Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him,
         Yet he does not know it.

10Though the pride of Israel testifies against him,
         Yet they have not returned to the LORD their God,
         Nor have they sought Him, for all this.

11So Ephraim has become like a silly dove, without sense;
         They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

12When they go, I will spread My net over them;
         I will bring them down like the birds of the sky.
         I will chastise them in accordance with the proclamation to their assembly.

13Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me!
         Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me!
         I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me.

14And they do not cry to Me from their heart
         When they wail on their beds;
         For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves,
         They turn away from Me.

15Although I trained and strengthened their arms,
         Yet they devise evil against Me.

16They turn, but not upward,
         They are like a deceitful bow;
         Their princes will fall by the sword
         Because of the insolence of their tongue.
         This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.

NASB ©1995

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