The Hebrew Prophets

Efrayim behaves like a silly, foolish dove - going to Egypt, then to Ashur for help.

Even as they go, I will spread my net over them; I will bring them down like birds from the sky; I will discipline them, as their assembly was told.

Woe to them! for they have strayed from me. Destruction to them! for they have wronged me. Am I supposed to redeem them, when they have spoken lies against me?

They have not cried out to me from their hearts, even though they wail on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and wine, yet turn away from me.

It was I who trained and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me.

They return, but not upward; they are like an unreliable bow. Their leaders will die by the sword because of their angry talk. They will become a laughingstock in the land of Egypt.

"Put the shofar to your lips! Like a vulture [he swoops down] on the house of ADONAI, because they have violated my covenant and sinned intentionally against my Torah.

Will they cry out to me, 'We are Isra'el, God, we know you'?

Isra'el has thrown away what is good; the enemy will pursue him.

They make kings, but without my authority; they appoint leaders, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, but these can lead only to their own destruction.

Your calf, Shomron, has been thrown away; my fury burns against them. How long will it be until they are able to make themselves clean?

Here is what Isra'el produces: a craftsman makes something - it's a non-god; the calf of Shomron will be broken to pieces.

For they sow the wind, so they will reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no ears, so it will yield no flour; and if it does yield any, foreigners will swallow it up.

Isra'el is swallowed up; now they are among the Goyim like a vessel nobody wants.

For they have gone up to Ashur; like a wild donkey, alone by itself, Efrayim has bargained for lovers.

But even if they bargain among the Goyim, now I will round them up. Soon they will start to feel the burden of these kings and leaders.

For Efrayim keeps building altars for sin; yes, altars are sinful for him.

I write him so many things from my Torah, yet he considers them foreign.

They offer me sacrifices of flesh and eat them, but ADONAI does not accept them. Now he will recall their crimes and punish their sins - they will return to Egypt.

For Isra'el forgot his maker and built palaces; and Y'hudah made more fortified cities; but I will send fire on his cities, and it will consume their strongholds."

Don't rejoice, Isra'el! Don't enjoy yourselves as other peoples do; for you have gone whoring away from your God, you love being hired as a whore on every grain-floor.

Threshing-floor and winepress won't feed them, and new wine will disappoint her.

They won't remain in the land of ADONAI; instead, Efrayim will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in Ashur.

They will not pour out wine offerings to ADONAI; they will not be pleasing to him. Their sacrifices will be for them like mourners' food everyone eating it will be polluted. For their food will be merely to satisfy their appetite; it will not come into the house of ADONAI.

What will you do at a designated time, on a day which is a festival for ADONAI?