Hosea 7:1-3

Context

7:1 whenever I want to heal Israel,

the sin of Ephraim is revealed,

and the evil deeds of Samaria are exposed.

For they do what is wrong;

thieves break into houses,

and gangs rob people out in the streets.

7:2 They do not realize¹

that I remember all of their wicked deeds.

Their evil deeds have now surrounded them;

their sinful deeds are always before me.²

Political Intrigue and Conspiracy in the Palace

7:3 The royal advisers delight the king with their evil schemes,

the princes make him glad with their lies.

[7:2] ¹tn Heb “and they do not say in their heart”; TEV “It never enters their heads.”

[7:2] ²tn Heb “they [the sinful deeds] are before my face” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV); NCV “they are right in front of me.”