1Don’t be happy, Israel, and celebrate like the other nations; for you have been unfaithful to your God. You love the payment of a prostitute at every grain threshing floor.
2The threshing floor and the wine press will not provide enough food for them, and the new wine will fail.
3They will not live in Yahweh’s land; instead, Ephraim will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in Assyria.
4They will not pour out wine offerings to Yahweh, nor will he be pleased with them. Their sacrifices will be like bread eaten by mourners; everyone who eats it will become ritually unclean; because their bread will only satisfy their hunger. It will not come into Yahweh’s house.
5What will you do on the day of the special assembly, and on the day of Yahweh’s feast?
6Look, they have fled from destruction. Egypt will gather them up. Memphis will bury them. Nettles will cover their precious silver possessions. Thorn bushes will be in their tents.
7The days of punishment have come. The days of reckoning have come. Israel will think the prophet is a fool, and the inspired person is insane, because of your many sins and your great hostility.
8A prophet watches over Ephraim with my God. A bird hunter’s trap is on all of his paths, and hostility is in the house of his God.
9They have become deeply corrupted, like in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their wickedness. He will punish them for their sins.
10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your ancestors as the first ripe figs on a fig tree in its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and dedicated themselves to that shameful idol, and became detestable like the thing they loved.
11As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird. There will be no births, no pregnant women, and no conception.
12Even if they raise their children, I will take them away so that not one person will be left. Indeed, woe to them when I turn away from them!
13I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place; but Ephraim will bring out his children to be killed.
14Give them — Yahweh, what will you give? Give them miscarriages and dry breasts.
15“All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them. Because of their wicked deeds, I will drive them out of my house! I will no longer love them. All their leaders are rebels.
16Ephraim is struck down. Their roots have dried up. They will bear no fruit. Even though they give birth, I will kill the beloved children of their womb.”
17My God will cast them away, because they did not listen to him; and they will become wanderers among the nations.