The Hebrew Prophets

And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria.

When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the birds of the heavens; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.

Woe unto them! for they have wandered from me; destruction unto them! for they have trespassed against me: though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

And they have not cried unto me with their heart, but they howl upon their beds: they assemble themselves for grain and new wine; they rebel against me.

Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet do they devise mischief against me.

They return, but not to him that is on high; they are like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

Setthe trumpet to thy mouth. As an eagle he cometh against the house of Jehovah, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

They shall cry unto me, My God, we Israel know thee.

Israel hath cast off that which is good: the enemy shall pursue him.

They have set up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

He hath cast off thy calf, O Samaria; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?

For from Israel is even this; the workman made it, and it is no God; yea, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: he hath no standing grain; the blade shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.

Israel is swallowed up: now are they among the nations as a vessel wherein none delighteth.

For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

Yea, though they hire among the nations, now will I gather them; and they begin to be diminished by reason of the burden of the king of princes.

Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars for sinning, altars have been unto him for sinning.

I wrote for him the ten thousand things of my law; but they are counted as a strange thing.

As for the sacrifices of mine offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; but Jehovah accepteth them not: now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and builded palaces; and Judah hath multiplied fortified cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the castles thereof.

Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, like the peoples; for thou hast played the harlot, departing from thy God; thou hast loved hire upon every grain-floor.

The threshing-floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail her.

They shall not dwell in Jehovah’s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria.

They shall not pour out wine-offerings to Jehovah, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted; for their bread shall be for their appetite; it shall not come into the house of Jehovah.

What will ye do in the day of solemn assembly, and in the day of the feast of Jehovah?