Study Desk

For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow.

"Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, And give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; For you have been a snare at Mizpah, And a net spread on Tabor.

I know Ephraim, And Israel is not hidden from me; For now, Ephraim, you have played the prostitute. Israel is defiled.

Their deeds won't allow them to turn to their God; For the spirit of prostitution is within them, And they don't know Yahweh.

They are unfaithful to Yahweh; For they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields.

For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver.

"Come, and let us return to Yahweh; For he has torn us to pieces, And he will heal us; He has injured us, And he will bind up our wounds.

"Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, And like the dew that disappears early.

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

"Also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, When I restore the fortunes of my people.

When I would heal Israel, Then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, Also the wickedness of Samaria; For they commit falsehood, And the thief enters in, And the gang of robbers ravages outside.

For they have made ready their heart like an oven, While they lie in wait. Their baker sleeps all the night. In the morning it burns as a flaming fire.

The pride of Israel testifies to his face; Yet they haven't returned to Yahweh their God, Nor sought him, for all this.

Woe to them! For they have wandered from me. Destruction to them! For they have trespassed against me. Though I would redeem them, Yet they have spoken lies against me.

They haven't cried to me with their heart, But they howl on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and new wine. They turn away from me.

They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a faulty bow. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.

For this is even from Israel! The workman made it, and it is no God; Indeed, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

For they sow the wind, And they will reap the whirlwind. He has no standing grain. The stalk will yield no head. If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up.

For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.

Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, They became for him altars for sinning.