The Hebrew Prophets

the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children.

Thus it will be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness. When the day dawns, the king of Israel will be utterly cut off.

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them.

I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.

Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?

A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.

My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.

How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!

I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not man— the Holy One among you— and I will not come in wrath.

They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.

They will come trembling like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria. Then I will settle them in their homes, declares the LORD.

Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.

Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.

The LORD also brings a charge against Judah. He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.

In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.

Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there—

the LORD is the God of Hosts— the LORD is His name of renown.

But you must return to your God, maintaining love and justice, and always waiting on your God.

A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.

And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.”

But I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt. I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast.

I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.

Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.