1
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When I heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim will be exposed, as well as the crimes of Samaria. For they practice deceit and thieves break in; bandits raid in the streets. |
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2
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But they fail to consider in their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds are all around them; they are before My face. |
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3
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They delight the king with their evil, and the princes with their lies. |
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4
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They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by a baker who needs not stoke the fire from the kneading to the rising of the dough. |
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5
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The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him. |
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6
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For they prepare their heart like an oven while they lie in wait; all night their anger smolders; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire. |
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7
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All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings fall; not one of them calls upon Me. |
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8
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Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake. |
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9
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Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know. |
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10
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Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to the LORD their God; despite all this, they do not seek Him. |
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11
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So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove—calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria. |
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12
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As they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the air. I will chastise them when I hear them flocking together. |
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13
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Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against Me! Though I would redeem them, they speak lies against Me. |
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14
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They do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me. |
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15
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Although I trained and strengthened their arms, they plot evil against Me. |
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16
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They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt. |
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