The .vij. Chapter.
1 Of the vices and wantonnesse of the people. 12 Of their punishment,
[unspec A] 1 WHen I vndertoke to make Israel whole, then the vngracious∣nesse of Ephraim, and the wickednes of Sa∣maria came to light, for thei go about with lyes, therfore the theefe robbeth with∣in, and the spoyler destroyeth without.
2 They consider not in their heartes that I remember al their wickednesse: Nowe their owne inuentions haue be∣set them, whiche I see well inough.
3 * 1.1They make the kyng glad with their wickednesse, and the princes with their lyes.
4 All these burne in adulterie, as it were an ouen that the baker heateth when he hath left kneading, tyll the dowe be leauened.
5 [This is] the day of our kyng, the princes haue made hym sicke with bot∣tels of wine, he hath stretched out his hande to scorners.
6 For whyles they lye in wayte, they haue made redye their heart lyke an ouen, their baker sleepeth all night, in the morning it burneth as a flambe of fire.
7 They are altogether as hotte as an [unspec B] ouen, and haue deuoured their owne iudges, all their kinges are fallen, yet is there none of them that calleth vpon me.
8 Ephraim hath mixt him selfe among [heathen] people, Ephraim is become like a cake that no man turneth.
9 Straungers haue deuoured his strength, and he regardeth it not: he waxeth full of gray heeres, yet wyll he not knowe it.
10 And the pryde of Israel testifieth to his face,* 1.2 yet wyll they not turne to the Lorde their God, nor seeke hym for all this.
11 Ephraim is like a doue that is begy∣led and hath no heart: * 1.3nowe call they vpon the Egyptians, now go they to the Assyrians.
12 But whyle they be goyng here and there I shal spreade my net ouer them, and drawe them downe as the foules of the ayre: and according as they haue ben warned, so wyll I punishe them.