1. and to heal its wounds.But then I see the crimesin Israel and Samaria.Everyone is deceitful;robbers roam the streets.
2. No one realizesthat I have seen their sinssurround them like a flood.
3. The king and his officialstake great pleasurein their sin and deceit.
4. Everyone burns with desire—they are like coals in an oven,ready to burst into flames.
5. On the day their kingwas crowned,his officials got him drunk,and he joinedin their foolishness.
6. Their anger is a firethat smoulders all night,then flares up at dawn.
7. They are flamesdestroying their leaders.And their kings are powerless;none of them trust me.
8. The people of Israelhave mixed with foreigners;they are a thin piece of breadscorched on one side.
9. They don't seem to realizehow weak and feeble they are;their hair has turned grey,while foreigners rule.
10. I am the Lord, their God,but in all their troublestheir pride keeps themfrom returning to me.
11. Israel is a senseless bird,fluttering back and forthbetween Egypt and Assyria.
12. But I will catch them in a netas hunters trap birds;I threatened to punish them,and indeed I will.
13. Trouble and destructionwill be their rewardfor rejecting me.I would have rescued them,but they told me lies.
14. They don't really pray to me;they just howl in their beds.They have rejected me for Baaland slashed themselves,in the hope that Baalwill bless their crops.
15. I taught them what they know,and I made them strong.Now they plot against me
16. and refuse to obey.They are more uselessthan a crooked arrow.Their leaders will die in warfor saying foolish things.Egyptians will laugh at them.