7:1 When I heal Israel, Israel’s sin will ·go away [or be revealed/exposed], and so will Samaria’s evil. “They ·cheat a lot [practice deceit; commit fraud]! Thieves ·break into houses [L come in], and ·robbers [gangs] ·are in the streets [raid/pillage outside].
7:2 ·It never enters their minds [L They never say in their hearts] that I remember all their evil deeds. The bad things they do ·are all around [engulf; surround] them; they are ·right in front of me [always before my face].
7:3 “They make the king happy with their wickedness; their ·rulers [princes] are glad with their lies.
7:4 But all of them are ·traitors [L adulterers]. They are like an oven heated by a baker. ·While he mixes the dough [L From the kneading of the dough until it is leavened], he does not need to stir up the fire.
7:5 The kings get so drunk they get sick ·every day [or on the festival day; L on the day]. The ·rulers [princes] become ·crazy [inflamed] with wine; they ·make agreements [conspire; L stretch out their hands] with ·those who do not know the true God [mockers; scoffers].
7:6 Their hearts burn like an oven; as they plot [C an assassination] against him. All night long their anger ·is low [smolders], but when morning comes, it becomes a roaring fire.
7:7 All ·these people [L of them] are as hot as an oven; they ·burn up [consume; devour] their rulers. All their kings fall, and no one calls on me.
7:8 “·Israel [L Ephraim; 4:17] mixes with other nations; he is like a ·pancake [cake; flat loaf] ·cooked only on one side [or burned on one side; L not turned].
7:9 ·Foreign nations [Strangers; Foreigners] have ·eaten up [devoured; sapped] his strength, but he doesn’t know it. ·Israel is weak and feeble, like an old man [L Grey hair is scattered on him], but he doesn’t know it.
7:10 Israel’s ·pride [arrogance] ·will cause their defeat [or testifies against him; L answers in his face]; they will not ·turn back [return] to the Lord their God or ·look to him for help [L seek him] in all this.
7:11 Israel has become like a ·pigeon [dove]— ·easy to fool [silly] and ·stupid [senseless]. First they call to Egypt for help. Then they ·run [turn; go] to Assyria.
7:12 When they go, I will ·catch them in a net [throw my net over them], I will bring them down like birds from the sky; I will ·punish [discipline] them ·countless times for their evil [or when I hear them flocking together; or according to the report given to the congregation].
7:13 ·How terrible for [L Woe to] them because they ·left [fled/strayed from] me! They will be destroyed, because they ·turned [rebelled] against me. I want to ·save [redeem] them, but they have spoken lies against me.
7:14 They do not ·call [cry out] to me from their hearts. They just lie on their beds and ·cry [wail]. They ·come together [assemble themselves; or gash/slash themselves; C a ritual practiced by pagan Canaanite priests (Deut. 14:1; 1 Kin. 18:28; Jer. 16:6)] to ask for grain and new wine, but they really ·turn away from [rebel against] me.
7:15 Though I trained them and ·gave them strength [L strengthened their arms], they have ·made evil plans [plotted evil] against me.
7:16 They ·did not turn to [or turn, but not to] the Most High God. They are like a ·loose bow that can’t shoot [faulty bow]. Because ·their leaders brag about their strength [of their indignant/insolent tongue], they will ·be killed with swords [fall by the sword], and the people in Egypt will ·laugh at [ridicule; deride] them.
Your support helps pay our hosting costs, and
- with a little bit extra -
lets us pay transcribers and proofreaders.
If you can help, Click here to become a Patreon:
www.patreon.com/IslamAwakened Thank you!