Study Desk

They do not cry out to me from their heart, but they wail on their beds; because of grain and new wine they lacerate themselves; they depart from me.

And I myself trained and strengthened their arms; but they plan evil against me.

Put to your lips the trumpet like a vulture over the house of Yahweh, because they have broken my covenant and rebelled against my law.

They appointed kings, but not through me; they made officials, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves for their own destruction.

Because they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind. The standing grain does not have heads; it will not yield flour. And if it would yield, strangers would devour it.

Even though they have sold themselves to the nations, now I will gather them. They will soon writhe from the burden of kings and princes.

They offer sacrifices of my choice and they eat flesh; Yahweh does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they will return to Egypt.

They will not remain in the land of Yahweh. But Ephraim will return to Egypt, and in Assyria they will eat unclean food.

They will not pour drink offerings of wine to Yahweh, and their sacrifices will not please him. They are like mourners' bread for them; all those who eat it will be defiled. For their bread will be for their hunger; it will not come to the house of Yahweh.

Like the grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like early ripened fruit on the fig tree in the first season, I saw your ancestors. They themselves came to Baal Peor, and they consecrated themselves to shame. And they became detestable things, like the thing they love.

My God will reject them because they did not listen to him, and they will be wanderers among the nations.

For now they will say, "We have no king; indeed, we did not fear Yahweh, and what can a king do for us?"

They utter words of vain oaths when making covenants, and judgment blossoms like a poisonous plant on the furrows of the field.

The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars. They will say to the mountains, "Cover us," and to the hills, "Fall on us."

When I called them, they went from my face. They sacrificed to the Baals, and they sacrificed to idols.

And I myself taught Ephraim to walk; I took them in my arms, but they did not know that I healed them.

He will return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria will be his king, because they refused to return.

They will tremble like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria; and I will let them return to their homes— a declaration of Yahweh.

And Ephraim said, "Surely, I am rich, I gained wealth for myself; in all my toil they have not found guilt in me that is sin.

And now they sin again, and they make for themselves a molten idol, idols from their silver metal according to their understanding, all of them the work of skilled craftsmen. To these they say, "Sacrifice!" People are kissing bull calves.