They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first season: but they came to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves unto the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved.

As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird. There shall be no birth, and none with child, and no conception; though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there be not a man left. Yea, woe also to them when I depart from them.

Ephraim, like as I have seen Tyre, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring out his children to the slayer.

Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them because of the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house: I will love them no more; all their princes are revolters.

Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay the beloved fruit of their womb. My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Israel is a luxuriant vine, which putteth forth his fruit: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly pillars. Their heart is smooth; now shall they be found guilty: he shall smite their altars, he shall spoil their pillars.

Surely now shall they say, We have no king: for we fear not the LORD; and the king, what can he do for us?

They speak vain words, swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgement springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. It also shall be carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

Samaria is cut off with her king, as foam upon the water. The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars. And they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood; shall not the battle against the children of iniquity overtake them in Gibeah?

When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are yoked to their two transgressions.

And Ephraim is an heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the corn; but I have passed over upon her fair

neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with her children. So shall it be done unto you at Beth-el because of your great wickedness: at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.

vii

The Yearning of God

THE LORD

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

As they called them, so they went from them: they

sacrificed unto the Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

Yet I taught Ephraim to go; I took them on my arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat before them.

He shall not return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. And the sword shall fall upon his cities, and shall consume his bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels. And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they call them to him that is on high, none at all will lift himself up.

How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my compassions are kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not come in wrath. They shall walk after the LORD, who shall roar like a lion: for he shall roar, and the children shall come trembling from the west. They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria and I will make them to dwell in their houses, saith the LORD.·