Study Desk

"When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores.

For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

As marauders lie in ambush for a man, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, committing shameful crimes.

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

Israel's arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the LORD his God or search for him.

They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from me.

They do not turn to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their insolent words. For this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.

They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval. With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction.

For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.

"Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning.

I wrote for them the many things of my law, but they regarded them as something alien.

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

They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD , nor will their sacrifices please him. Such sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat them will be unclean. This food will be for themselves; it will not come into the temple of the LORD .

They have sunk deep into corruption, as in the days of Gibeah. God will remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins.

Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones.

Then they will say, "We have no king because we did not revere the LORD . But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?"

The people who live in Samaria fear for the calf-idol of Beth Aven. Its people will mourn over it, and so will its idolatrous priests, those who had rejoiced over its splendor, because it is taken from them into exile.

It will be carried to Assyria as tribute for the great king. Ephraim will be disgraced; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.

When I please, I will punish them; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bonds for their double sin.