Study Desk

Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant^(a) like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful^(b) to your God; you love the wages of a prostitute^(c) at every threshing floor.

Threshing floors and winepresses will not feed the people; the new wine^(d) will fail them.

They will not remain^(e) in the Lord 's land; Ephraim will return to Egypt^(f) and eat unclean food in Assyria.^(g)

They will not pour out wine offerings^(h) to the Lord , nor will their sacrifices please⁽ⁱ⁾ him. Such sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners;^(j) all who eat them will be unclean.^(k) This food will be for themselves; it will not come into the temple of the Lord .^(l)

What will you do^(m) on the day of your appointed festivals,⁽ⁿ⁾ on the feast days of the Lord ?

Even if they escape from destruction, Egypt will gather them,^(o) and Memphis^(p) will bury them.^(q) Their treasures of silver^(r) will be taken over by briers, and thorns^(s) will overrun their tents.

The days of punishment^(t) are coming, the days of reckoning^(u) are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins^(v) are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool,^(w) the inspired person a maniac.^(x)

The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim,^[a] yet snares^(y) await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.^(z)

They have sunk deep into corruption,^(aa) as in the days of Gibeah.^(ab) God will remember^(ac) their wickedness and punish them for their sins.^(ad)

"When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit^(ae) on the fig^(af) tree. But when they came to Baal Peor,^(ag) they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol^(ah) and became as vile as the thing they loved.

Ephraim's glory^(ai) will fly away like a bird^(aj)— no birth, no pregnancy, no conception.^(ak)

Even if they rear children, I will bereave^(al) them of every one. Woe^(am) to them when I turn away from them!^(an)

I have seen Ephraim,^(ao) like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place.^(ap) But Ephraim will bring out their children to the slayer."^(aq)

Give them, Lord — what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that are dry.^(ar)

"Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal,^(as) I hated them there. Because of their sinful deeds,^(at) I will drive them out of my house. I will no longer love them;^(au) all their leaders are rebellious.^(av)

Ephraim^(aw) is blighted, their root is withered, they yield no fruit.^(ax) Even if they bear children, I will slay^(ay) their cherished offspring."