¹⁶ The Israelites are stubborn,^(A)
    like a stubborn heifer.^(B)
How then can the Lord pasture them
    like lambs^(C) in a meadow?
¹⁷ Ephraim is joined to idols;
    leave him alone!
¹⁸ Even when their drinks are gone,
    they continue their prostitution;
    their rulers dearly love shameful ways.

⁵ Israel’s arrogance testifies^(A) against them;
    the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble^(B) in their sin;
    Judah also stumbles with them.^(C)

⁹ Ephraim will be laid waste^(A)
    on the day of reckoning.^(B)
Among the tribes of Israel
    I proclaim what is certain.^(C)

¹¹ Ephraim is oppressed,
    trampled in judgment,
    intent on pursuing idols.^[a](A)
12 I am like a moth^(B) to Ephraim,
    like rot^(C) to the people of Judah.

¹³ “When Ephraim^(D) saw his sickness,
    and Judah his sores,
then Ephraim turned to Assyria,^(E)
    and sent to the great king for help.^(F)
But he is not able to cure^(G) you,
    not able to heal your sores.^(H)

⁸ “Ephraim mixes^(A) with the nations;
    Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over.

⁹ Foreigners sap his strength,^(A)
    but he does not realize it.
His hair is sprinkled with gray,
    but he does not notice.

⁸ The prophet, along with my God,
    is the watchman over Ephraim,^[a]
yet snares^(A) await him on all his paths,
    and hostility in the house of his God.^(B)

¹¹ Ephraim’s glory^(A) will fly away like a bird^(B)—
    no birth, no pregnancy, no conception.^(C)