"For Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn calf; Now the LORD will let them forage Like a lamb in open country.

" Because you were glad, because you rejoiced, You destroyers of My heritage, Because you have grown fat like a heifer threshing grain, And you bellow like bulls,

For their mother has played the harlot; She who conceived them has behaved shamefully. For she said, 'I will go after my lovers, Who give [me] my bread and my water, My wool and my linen, My oil and my drink.'

Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman [who is] loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love [the] raisin cakes [of the pagans."]

Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like [other] peoples, For you have played the harlot against your God. You have made love [for] hire on every threshing floor.

" You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out [the grain.]

For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped [and] fed them.

Therefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought [them] to Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter.

Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, Azrikam the officer over the house, and Elkanah [who was] second to the king.

Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow? Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods?