Hosea 7:9-16
9
Foreigners sap his strength,
but he does not realize it.
His hair is sprinkled with gray,
but he does not notice.
10
Israel’s arrogance testifies against him,
but despite all this
he does not return to the Lord his God
or search for him.
11
“Ephraim is like a dove,
easily deceived and senseless—
now calling to Egypt,
now turning to Assyria.
12
When they go, I will throw my net over them;
I will pull them down like birds of the air.
When I hear them flocking together,
I will catch them.
13
Woe to them,
because they have strayed from me!
Destruction to them,
because they have rebelled against me!
I long to redeem them
but they speak lies against me.
14
They do not cry out to me from their hearts
but wail upon their beds.
They gather together for grain and new wine
but turn away from me.
15
I trained them and strengthened them,
but they plot evil against me.
16
They do not turn to the Most High;
they are like a faulty bow.
Their leaders will fall by the sword
because of their insolent words.
For this they will be ridiculed
in the land of Egypt.