Hosea 7:16

¹⁴ They do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me.

¹⁵ Although I trained and strengthened their arms, they plot evil against Me.

They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.
KJV: They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
WEB: They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a faulty bow. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.
ASV: They return, but not to [him that is] on high; they are like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
DARBY: They return, [but] not to the [Most] High: they are like a deceitful bow. Their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
BLB: They return, not to the Most High; they are like a bow of slackness; their princes will fall by the sword, from the insolence of their tongue; this [is] their derision in the land of Egypt.

ÅB: De vender seg, men ikke mot det høye; de er blitt som en sviktende bue. Deres fyrster skal falle for sverdet for sin rasende tunges skyld; dette blir dem til spott i Egypt.
[^1]: deres lidenskap.
OTB: De vender seg, men ikke oppover,
De er som en svikefull bue;
Deres embetsmenn vil falle for sverdet
På grunn av deres tunges frekkhet.
Dette vil være deres hån i Egypts land.
B1930: De vender sig, men ikke mot det høie; de er blitt som en sviktende bue. Deres fyrster skal falle for sverdet for sin rasende tunges skyld; dette blir dem til spott i Egyptens land.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 78:57
They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow.
Read in context
Hosea 9:3
They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.
Read in context
Psalms 73:9
They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
Read in context
Ezekiel 23:32
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You will drink your sister’s cup, a cup deep and wide. It will bring scorn and derision, for it holds so much.
Read in context
Matthew 12:36
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
Read in context
Hosea 9:6
For even if they flee destruction, Egypt will gather them and Memphis will bury them. Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles, and thorns will overrun their tents.
Read in context
Psalms 12:4
They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”
Read in context
Ezekiel 36:20
And wherever they went among the nations, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave His land.’
Read in context