rd

Hosea 7

Of the vices & wantonness of the people. 12 Of their punishment.
1.When I would have healed Israél, then the iniquity of Ephráim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they have dealt falsely: and athe thief cometh in, and the robber spoileth without.
2.And they consider not in their hearts, that I remember all their wickedness: now their own inventions have beset them about: they are in my sight.
3.They make the bKing glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
4.They are all adulterers, and as a very coven heated by the baker, which ceaseth from raising up, and from kneading the dough until it be leavened.
5.This is the day dof our King: the princes have made him sick with flagons of wine: he stretcheth out his hand to scorners.
6.For they have made ready their heart like an oven whiles they lie in wait: their baker slepeth all the night: in the morning it burneth as a flame of fire.
7.They are all hot as an oven, and have edevoured their Judges: all their Kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.
8.Ephráim hath fmixt him self among the people. Ephráim is as a cake on the hearth not turned.
9.Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, ggray hairs are here & there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
10.And the pride of Israél testifieth to his face, and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.
11.Ephraim also is like a dove deceived, without hheart: they call to Egypt: they go to Asshúr.
12.But when they shal go, I will spread my net upon them, and draw them down as the fowls of the heaven: I will chastise them as their icongregation hath heard.
13.Wo unto them: for they have fled away from me: destruction shalbe unto them, because they have transgressed against me: though I have kredeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
14.And they have not cried unto me with their hearts, iwhen they howled upon their beds: mthey assemble them selves for corn, and wine, and they rebel against me.
15.Though I have bound, and strengthened their arm, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
16.They return, but not to the most high: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shal fall by the sword, for the rage nof their tongues: this shalbe their derision in the land of Egypt.

Notes

1-a.
Meaning, that there was no one kind of vice among them, but that they were subject to all wickedness, both secret and open.
3-b.
They esteem their wicked King Jeroboam above God, and seek but how to flatter, and please him.
4-c.
He compares the rage of the people to a burning oven which the baker heats still till his dough be leavened, and raised.
5-d.
They used all riot and excess in their feasts and solemnities, whereby their King was overcome with surfeit, and brought into diseases, and delighted in flatteries.
7-e.
By their occasion God has deprived them of all good rulers.
8-f.
That is, he counterfeits the religion of the Gentiles, yet is but as a cake baked on the one side, and raw on the other, that is, neither through hot nor through cold, but partly a Jew, and partly a Gentile. (Rev. 3.14)
9-g.
Which are a token of his manifold afflictions.
11-h.
That is, without all judgment, as they that can not tell whether it is best to cleave only to God, or to seek the help of man.
12-i.
According to my curses made to the whole congregation of Israel.
13-k.
That is, divers times redeemed them, & delivered them from death.
14-l.
When they were in affliction, and cried out for pain, they sought not unto me for help.
14-m.
They only seek their own commodity and wealth, and pass not for me their God.
16-n.
Because they boast of their own strength, and pass not what they speak against me and my servants, Ps. 73.9.