The Word Am I

The Prophet Hosea

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- Chapter 7 -

1
When I was willing to heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the malice of Samaria, for they had been manufacturing lies. And the thief steals from inside, the robber from outside.(a)
2
And, so that they may not say in their hearts that I am the one who has called to mind all of their wickedness: now their own inventions have encircled them. These things have happened in my presence.
3
The king has rejoiced at their wickedness, and the leaders have rejoiced in their lies.(b)
4
They are all adulterers; like an oven heating up before baking, the city rested a little before the leaven was mixed in, until the whole was leavened.(c)
5
On the day of our king, the leaders began to be mad with wine; he extended his hand with those who fabricate illusions.(d)
6
For they have used their heart like an oven, while he laid snares for them; he slept through the night baking them, and by morning he himself was heated like a burning fire.
7
They have all become hot like an oven, and they have devoured their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one who calls to me among them.
8
Ephraim himself has been mingled with the nations. Ephraim has become like bread, baked under ashes, that has not been turned over.
9
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he did not know it. And grey hairs also have spread across him, and he is ignorant of it.
10
And the pride of Israel will be brought low before his face, for they have not returned to the Lord their God, nor have they sought him in all of this.(e)
11
And Ephraim has become like a pigeon that has been led astray, not having a heart; for they called upon Egypt, they went to the Assyrians.
12
And when they will set out, I will spread my net over them. I will pull them down like the birds of the sky; I will cut them down in accordance with the reports of their meetings.(f)
13
Woe to them, for they have withdrawn from me. They will waste away because they have been dishonest with me. And I redeemed them, and they have spoken lies against me.
14
And they have not cried out to me in their heart, but they howled on their beds. They have obsessed about wheat and wine; they have withdrawn from me.(g)
15
And I have educated them, and I have reinforced their arms; and they have imagined evil against me.
16
They returned so that they might be without a yoke. They have become like a deceitful bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of the madness of their words. This is their derision in the land of Egypt.

Footnotes

(a)7:1 More literally, the last part reads, ‘And the thief has entered stealing, the robber outside.’ The less literal translation is more comprehensible and more poetic.(Conte)
(b)7:3 Made the king glad, etc:To please Jeroboam, and their other kings they have given themselves up to the wicked worship of idols, which are mere falsehood and lies.(Challoner)
(c)7:4 In other words, ‘like a pre-heated oven....’(Conte)
(d)7:5 This last phrase is interesting. It is translated as ‘scoffers’ by the Douay-Rheims; it can also refer to those who mock or ridicule. But it gives rise to the English word illusion and is derived from ‘ludere,’ meaning ‘to play.’ It refers to those who put on a play, who make use of illusions to mock, in other words, to what we today call the entertainment industry or the media.(Conte)
(e)7:10 In this case, ‘superbia’ has a positive meaning, ‘pride’ in a good sense, instead of arrogance, and ‘humiliabitur’ has a negative meaning, ‘to be brought low’ rather than to become humble, as indicated by the context.(Conte)
(f)7:12 The word ‘coetus’ can refer to various types of meetings: social, political, sexual, etc. The word auditionem refers to a report or the result of a meeting, such as an agreement or ruling. The phrase ‘secundum auditionem cœtus eorum’ is translated in the context of God’s objection to the people going to Egypt and Assyria for assistance and meetings and agreements. Therefore, the meaning and translation is political. God objects when the faithful seek safety from meetings and agreements with secular groups, rather than seeking help and safety from God.(Conte)
(g)7:14 The word ‘ruminabant’ means to chew on something, but it is used figuratively here to mean continually thinking about the same thing, in this case wheat and wine (i.e. basic necessities and entertainment).(Conte)
1
When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, also the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and the thief enters in, and the gang of robbers ravages outside.
2
They don’t consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their own deeds have engulfed them. They are before my face.
3
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
4
They are all adulterers. They are burning like an oven that the baker stops stirring, from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened.
5
On the day of our king, the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine. He joined his hand with mockers.
6
For they have prepared their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their anger smolders all night. In the morning it burns as a flaming fire.
7
They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one among them who calls to me.
8
Ephraim mixes himself among the nations. Ephraim is a pancake not turned over.
9
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn’t realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn’t realize it.
10
The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they haven’t returned to the LORD their God, nor sought him, for all this.
11
“Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria.
12
When they go, I will spread my net on them. I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard.
13
Woe to them! For they have wandered from me. Destruction to them! For they have trespassed against me. Though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
14
They haven’t cried to me with their heart, but they howl on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and new wine. They turn away from me.
15
Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me.
16
They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a faulty bow. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.
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