The Hebrew Prophets

And rise doth a tumult among thy people, And all thy fortresses are spoiled, As the spoiling of Shalman of Beth-Arbel, In a day of battle, Mother against sons dashed in pieces.

Thus hath Beth-El done to you, Because of the evil of your wickedness, In the dawn cut off utterly is a king of Israel!

Because Israel is a youth, and I love him, Out of Egypt I have called for My Son.

They have called to them rightly, They have gone from before them, To lords they do sacrifice, And to graven images they make perfume.

And I have caused Ephraim to go on foot, Taking them by their arms, And they have not known that I strengthened them.

With cords of man I do draw them, With thick cords of love, And I am to them as a raiser up of a yoke on their jaws, And I incline unto him--I feed him .

He turneth not back unto the land of Egypt, And Asshur--he is his king, For they have refused to return.

Grievous hath been the sword in his cities, And it hath ended his bars, and consumed--from their own counsels.

And My people are hanging in suspense, about My returning, And unto the Most High they do call, Together they exalt not.

How do I give thee up, O Ephraim? Do I deliver thee up, O Israel? How do I make thee as Admah? Do I set thee as Zeboim? Turned in Me is My heart, kindled together have been My repentings.

I do not the fierceness of My anger, I turn not back to destroy Ephraim, For God I am , and not a man. In thy midst the Holy One, and I enter not in enmity,

After Jehovah they go--as a lion He roareth, When He doth roar, then tremble do the sons from the west.

They tremble as a sparrow out of Egypt, And as a dove out of the land of Asshur, And I have caused them to dwell in their own houses, An affirmation of Jehovah.

Compassed Me with feigning hath Ephraim, And with deceit the house of Israel. And Judah again is ruling with God, And with the Holy Ones is faithful!

Ephraim is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day lying and spoiling he multiplieth, And a covenant with Asshur they make, And oil to Egypt is carried.

And a controversy hath Jehovah with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, According to his doings He returneth to him.

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God,

Yea, he is a prince unto the Messenger, And he overcometh by weeping, And he maketh supplication to Him, At Bethel He doth find him, And there He doth speak with us,

Even Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah is His memorial.

And thou, through thy God, dost turn, Kindness and judgment keep thou, And wait on thy God continually.

Canaan! in his hand are balances of deceit! To oppress he hath loved.

And Ephraim saith: `Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, All my labours--they find not against me iniquity that is sin.'

And I--Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt, Again do I turn thee back into tents, As in the days of the appointed time.

And I have spoken unto the prophets, And I have multiplied vision, And by the hand of the prophets I use similes.

Surely Gilead is iniquity, Only, vanity they have been, In Gilead bullocks they have sacrificed, Also their altars are as heaps, on the furrows of a field.