1. “Whenever I want to heal Israel,all I can see is Ephraim’s sin and Samaria’s wickedness.People cheat each other.They break into houses and steal.They rob people in the streets.
2. They don’t realize that I rememberall the evil things they’ve done.Now their sins surround them.Their sins are in my presence.
3. “They make kings happy with the wicked things they do.They make officials happy with the lies they tell.
4. They all commit adultery.They are like a heated oven,an oven so hot that a baker doesn’t have to fan its flameswhen he makes bread.
5. On the day of the king’s celebration,the officials become drunk from wine,and the king joins mockers.