Study Desk

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

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

I wrote for him the many things of my law; But they were regarded as a strange thing.

As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; But the LORD doesn't accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, And punish their sins. They will return to Mitzrayim.

For Yisra'el has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; And Yehudah has multiplied fortified cities; But I will send a fire on his cities, And it will devour its fortresses."

Don't rejoice, Yisra'el, to jubilation like the nations; For you were unfaithful to your God. You love the wages of a prostitute at every grain threshing floor.

They won't pour out wine offerings to the LORD, Neither will they be pleasing to him. Their sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners; All who eat of it will be polluted; For their bread will be for their appetite. It will not come into the house of the LORD.

For, behold, they have gone away from destruction. Mitzrayim will gather them up. Mof will bury them. Nettles will possess their pleasant things of silver. Thorns will be in their tents.

They have deeply corrupted themselves, As in the days of Gevah. He will remember their iniquity. He will punish them for their sins.

As for Efrayim, their glory will fly away like a bird. There will be no birth, none with child, and no conception.

"All their wickedness is in Gilgal; For there I hated them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house! I will love them no more. All their princes are rebels.

Surely now they will say, "We have no king; for we don't fear the LORD; And the king, what can he do for us?"

The inhabitants of Shomron will be in terror for the calves of Beit-Aven; For its people will mourn over it, Along with its Kohanim who rejoiced over it, For its glory, because it has departed from it.

It also will be carried to Ashshur for a present to king Yarev. Efrayim will receive shame, And Yisra'el will be ashamed of his own counsel.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, Reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; For it is time to seek the LORD, Until he comes and rains righteousness on you.

You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, For you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.

I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Efrayim: For I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of you; And I will not come in wrath.

They will walk after the LORD, Who will roar like a lion; For he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.

Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually.

Ya`akov fled into the country of Aram, And Yisra'el served to get a wife, And for a wife he tended flocks and herds.