3They delight the king with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. 4They are all adulterers, always aflame with lust, like an oven heated by the baker, who does not need to stoke it after he has kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. 5On the day of our festival of the king, the princes get drunk with skins of wine; and he joins hands with scoffers. 6For they have prepared their heart like an oven, while they smolder all the night; in the morning they burst into a flaming fire. 7They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings have fallen; there is none among them that calls upon Me.

8Ephraim has mingled among the pagan nations; Ephraim is as useless as a cake not turned. 9Foreigners have sapped his strength, and he does not realize it; yea, his head is sprinkled with gray hairs; yet he knows not. 10And the arrogance of Israel testifies against him; but he (they) do not return to the LORD, their God, nor seek Him, despite all this. 11Ephraim also is like a silly dove easily deceived; now calling to Egypt, then going to Assyria. 12When they go, I will spread My net upon them; I will bring them down like the birds of the skies; I will punish them, as they have been warned.

13Woe unto them! For they have strayed from Me. Destruction awaits them, because they have transgressed against Me. Though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against Me. 14And they have not cried out to Me with their heart, but have wailed upon their beds; they appeal to their false gods for grain and wine, and they rebel against Me. 15Though I have healed and strengthened their arms, yet they imagine mischief against Me. 16They look to everything, except to Me, the Most High; they are like a faulty bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for their insolent and rash words; this shall cause those in the land of Egypt to laugh at them.