<t /><p class="poetry">The punishment<n id="1" /> of Ephraim has been decreed;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">his punishment is being stored up for the future.p>

<p class="poetry">whenever I want to heal Israel,p> <p class="poetry">the sin of Ephraim is revealed,p> <p class="poetry">and the evil deeds of Samaria are exposed.p> <p class="poetry">For they do what is wrong;p> <p class="poetry">thieves break into houses,p> <p class="poetry">and gangs rob people out in the streets.p>

<p class="poetry">Ephraim boasts,<n id="1" /> &#8220;I am very rich!p> <p class="poetry">I have become wealthy!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">In all that I have done to gain my wealth,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">no one can accuse me of any offense<n id="4" /> that is actually sinful.&#8221;<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">Return to the <sc>Lordsc> and repent!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Say to him: &#8220;Completely<n id="2" /> forgive our iniquity;p> <p class="poetry">accept<n id="3" /> our penitential prayer,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">that we may offer the praise of our lips as sacrificial bulls.<n id="5" />p>