1 and to heal its wounds.But then I see the crimesin Israel and Samaria.Everyone is deceitful;robbers roam the streets.
2 No one realizesthat I have seen their sinssurround them like a flood.
3 The king and his officialstake great pleasurein their sin and deceit.
4 Everyone burns with desire—they are like coals in an oven,ready to burst into flames.
5 On the day their kingwas crowned,his officials got him drunk,and he joinedin their foolishness.
6 Their anger is a firethat smolders all night,then flares up at dawn.
7 They are flamesdestroying their leaders.And their kings are powerless;none of them trust me.
8 The people of Israelhave mixed with foreigners;they are a thin piece of breadscorched on one side.
9 They don't seem to realizehow weak and feeble they are;their hair has turned gray,while foreigners rule.
10 I am the Lord, their God,but in all of their troublestheir pride keeps themfrom returning to me.
11 Israel is a senseless bird,fluttering back and forthbetween Egypt and Assyria.
12 But I will catch them in a netas hunters trap birds;I threatened to punish them,and indeed I will.
13 Trouble and destructionwill be their rewardfor rejecting me.I would have rescued them,but they told me lies.
14 They don't really pray to me;they just howl in their beds.They have rejected me for Baaland slashed themselves,in the hope that Baalwill bless their crops.
15 I taught them what they know,and I made them strong.Now they plot against me
16 and refuse to obey.They are more uselessthan a crooked arrow.Their leaders will die in warfor saying foolish things.Egyptians will laugh at them.