1. whenever I want to heal Israel,the sin of Ephraim is revealed,and the evil deeds of Samaria are exposed.For they do what is wrong;thieves break into houses,and gangs rob people out in the streets.
2. They do not realizethat I remember all of their wicked deeds.Their evil deeds have now surrounded them;their sinful deeds are always before me.
3. The royal advisers delight the king with their evil schemes,the princes make him glad with their lies.
4. They are all like bakers,they are like a smoldering oven;they are like a baker who does not stoke the fireuntil the kneaded dough is ready for baking.
5. At the celebration of their king, his princes become inflamed with wine;they conspire with evildoers.
6. They approach him, all the while plotting against him.Their hearts are like an oven;their anger smolders all night long,but in the morning it bursts into a flaming fire.
7. All of them are blazing like an oven;they devour their rulers.All of their kings fall – and none of them call on me!
8. Ephraim has mixed itself like flour among the nations;Ephraim is like a ruined cake of bread that is scorched on one side.
9. Foreigners are consuming what his strenuous labor produced,but he does not recognize it!His head is filled with gray hair,but he does not realize it!
10. The arrogance of Israel testifies against him,yet they refuse to return to the Lord their God!In spite of all this they refuse to seek him!