The Lord says,“ The people of Ephraim are like a dove. They are easily tricked. They do not have any sense at all. First they call out to Egypt for help. Then they turn to Assyria.

以法莲好像鸽子愚蠢无知；他们求告埃及，投奔亚述。

以法莲好像鸽子愚蠢无知，他们求告埃及，投奔亚述。

以法莲好像鸽子愚蠢无知，他们求告埃及，投奔亚述。

以法莲像鸽子一样愚蠢无知，他们向埃及求救，又投奔亚述。

以法莲好像一只愚蠢无知的鸽子。他们向埃及求助，投奔亚述。

以法蓮好像鴿子愚蠢無知；他們求告埃及，投奔亞述。

以法蓮好像鴿子愚蠢無知，他們求告埃及，投奔亞述。

以法蓮好像鴿子愚蠢無知，他們求告埃及，投奔亞述。

以法蓮像鴿子一樣愚蠢無知，他們向埃及求救，又投奔亞述。

以法蓮好像一隻愚蠢無知的鴿子。他們向埃及求助，投奔亞述。

以法蓮好像鴿子愚蠢無心思：呼求埃及，投奔亞述。

以法蓮無知如蠢鳩、呼埃及、就亞述、

以法蓮族無知、蠢然若鴿、或呼埃及人、或就亞述人望其扶持、

以法蓮無知、蠢然如鴿、或作以法蓮如鴿愚蠢無知哀呼伊及、往亞述求救、

“ Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless— now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.

Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria.

“ The people of Israel have become like silly, witless doves, first calling to Egypt, then flying to Assyria for help.

So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove; they call to Egypt, and they go to Assyria.

So Ephraim has become like a gullible dove, without sense; They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

“ Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without sense— They call to Egypt, They go to Assyria.

And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria.

So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove; they call to Egypt, and they go to Assyria.

Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

Ephraim has been like a dove, easily deceived and lacking discernment. They called to Egypt for help; they turned to Assyria for protection.

“ Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria.

“ The people of Ephraim saw how sick they were. The people of Judah saw that they were wounded. Then Ephraim turned to Assyria for help. They sent gifts to the great King Tiglath- Pileser. But he is not able to make you well. He can’t heal your wounds.

The people of Ephraim look to others for help. It’s like chasing the wind. The wind they keep chasing is hot and dry. They tell more and more lies. They are always hurting others. They make a peace treaty with Assyria. They send olive oil to Egypt to get help.

with prostitutes. They drink old wine and fresh wine. Their drinking has destroyed their ability to understand.

They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows. They will return from Assyria, flying in like doves. I will settle you again in your homes,” announces the Lord.

You won’t remain in the Lord’ s land. Ephraim, you will return to Egypt. You will eat“ unclean” food in Assyria.

A man who commits adultery has no sense. Anyone who does it destroys himself.

Shalmaneser came up to attack Hoshea. Shalmaneser was king of Assyria. He had been Hoshea’s master. He had forced Hoshea to bring him gifts.But the king of Assyria found out that Hoshea had turned against him. Hoshea had sent messengers to So, the king of Egypt. Hoshea didn’t send gifts to the king of Assyria anymore. He had been sending them every year. So Shalmaneser grabbed him and put him in prison.

Why should a foolish person try to buy wisdom? They are not even able to understand it.

“ How terrible it will be for these stubborn children of mine!” announces the Lord.“ How terrible for those who carry out plans that did not come from me! Their agreement with Egypt did not come from my Spirit. So they pile up one sin on top of another.They go down to Egypt without asking me for advice. They look to Pharaoh to help them. They ask Egypt to keep them safe.But looking to Pharaoh will only bring them shame. Asking Egypt for help will bring them dishonor.Their officials have gone to the city of Zoan. Their messengers have arrived in Hanes.But the people of Judah will be put to shame. That’s because they are trusting in a nation that is useless to them. Egypt will not bring them any help or advantage. Instead, it will bring them shame and dishonor.”Here is a prophecy the Lord gave me about the animals in the Negev Desert. Judah’s messengers carry their riches on the backs of donkeys. They carry their treasures on the humps of camels. They travel through a land of danger and suffering. It’s a land filled with lions. Poisonous snakes are also there. The messengers travel to a nation that can’t do them any good.

Those who turn away from correction hate themselves. But anyone who accepts correction gains understanding.

The older sister was named Oholah. The younger one was Oholibah. They belonged to me. Sons and daughters were born to them. Oholah stands for Samaria. And Oholibah stands for Jerusalem.“ Oholah was unfaithful to me even while she still belonged to me. She longed for her Assyrian lovers. They included soldierswho wore blue uniforms. They also included governors and commanders. All of them were young and handsome. They rode horses.She gave herself as a prostitute to all Assyria’s finest warriors. She made herself impure with the statues of the gods of everyone she longed for.She started being a prostitute in Egypt. And she never stopped. When she was young, men had sex with her. They kissed her virgin breasts. They used up all their sinful desires on her.

So the people of Israel are swallowed up. Now they are among the nations like something no one wants.They have gone up to Assyria for help. They are like a wild donkey that wanders around by itself. Ephraim’s people have sold themselves to their Assyrian lovers.

Why do you keep on changing your ways so much? Assyria did not help you. And Egypt will not help you either.

Then Tiglath- Pileser marched into the land of Israel. He was king of Assyria. Menahem gave him 38 tons of silver to get his help. He wanted to make his control over the kingdom stronger.

Why do you go to Egypt to drink water from the Nile River? Why do you go to Assyria to drink from the Euphrates River?

How terrible it will be for those who go down to Egypt for help! How terrible for those who depend on horses! They trust in how many chariots they have. They trust in how strong their horsemen are. But they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel. They don’t ask the Lord for his help.He too is wise. He can bring horrible trouble. He does what he says he’ll do. He’ll rise up against that evil nation. He’ll fight against those who help them.The men of Egypt are only human beings. They aren’t God. Their horses are only flesh and blood. They aren’t spirits. The Lord will reach out his powerful hand to punish everyone. The Egyptians provide help. But they will be tripped up. The people of Judah receive the help. But they will fall down. All of them will be destroyed.

Assyria can’t save us. We won’t trust in our war horses. Our own hands have made statues of gods. But we will never call them our gods again. We are like children whose fathers have died. But you show us your tender love.”