1Rejoice not, O Israel , for joy , as other people : for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God , thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor . 2The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her. 3They shall not dwell in the LORD’s land ; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt , and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria . 4They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD , neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners ; all that eat thereof shall be polluted : for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD . 5What will ye do in the solemn day , and in the day of the feast of the LORD ? 6For, lo, they are gone because of destruction : Egypt shall gather them up , Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver , nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles .
God's Judgment and Mercy
7The days of visitation are come , the days of recompence are come ; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool , the spiritual man is mad , for the multitude of thine iniquity , and the great hatred . 8The watchman of Ephraim was with my God : but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways , and hatred in the house of his God . 9They have deeply corrupted themselves , as in the days of Gibeah : therefore he will remember their iniquity , he will visit their sins . 10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness ; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time : but they went to Baal-peor , and separated themselves unto that shame ; and their abominations were according as they loved .
The Future of Israel
11As for Ephraim , their glory shall fly away like a bird , from the birth , and from the womb , and from the conception . 12Though they bring up their children , yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them! 13Ephraim , as I saw Tyrus , is planted in a pleasant place : but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer . 14Give them, O LORD : what wilt thou give ? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts . 15All their wickedness is in Gilgal : for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house , I will love them no more : all their princes are revolters . 16Ephraim is smitten , their root is dried up , they shall bear no fruit : yea, though they bring forth , yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb . 17My God will cast them away , because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations .