1Thieves break in, bandits roam outside.
2Yet they do not call to mind that I remember all their wickedness. Now their crimes surround them, present to my sight.
3Israel’s Domestic Politics - With their wickedness they make the king rejoice, the princes too, with their treacherous deeds.
4They are all adulterers, like a blazing oven, Which the baker quits stoking, after the dough’s kneading until its rising.
5On the day of our king, they made the princes sick with poisoned wine; he extended his hand to the scoffers.
6For they draw near in ambush with their hearts like an oven. All the night their anger sleeps; in the morning it flares like a blazing fire.
7They are all heated like ovens, and consume their rulers. All their kings have fallen; none of them calls upon me.
8Israel’s Foreign Politics - Ephraim is mixed with the nations, Ephraim is an unturned cake.
9Strangers have consumed his strength, but he does not know it; Gray hairs are strewn on his head, but he takes no notice of it.
10The arrogance of Israel bears witness against him; yet they do not return to the LORD, their God, nor seek him, despite all this.
11Ephraim is like a dove, silly and senseless; They call upon Egypt, they go to Assyria.
12When they go I will spread my net around them, like birds in the air I will bring them down. I will chastise them when I hear of their assembly.
13Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Ruin to them, for they have rebelled against me! Though I wished to redeem them, they spoke lies against me.
14They have not cried to me from their hearts when they wailed upon their beds; For wheat and wine they lacerated themselves; they rebelled against me.
15Though I trained and strengthened their arms, yet they devised evil against me.
16They have again become useless, they have been like a treacherous bow. Their princes shall fall by the sword because of the insolence of their tongues; thus they shall be mocked in the land of Egypt.