Hosea 13

1 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal, and he died.

When Ephraim spoke, they were feared, for they were the leading tribe in Israel. But when they were guilty of Baal worship, they died.

2 Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”

Now they constantly sin, making for themselves idols from molten metal. All of these idols are skillfully made from silver by their craftsmen. “Offer sacrifices to these idols,” say the people. “Kiss the bull calf idols.”

3 Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window.

Consequently they will be like the morning mist, like early morning dew, like chaff blowing away from the threshing floor, like smoke from a chimney.

4 Yet I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but Me, for there is no Savior besides Me.

Yet I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You shall know no other gods but me. None can save you except me.

5 I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.

I looked after you in the wilderness; in that dry desert land it was like pasture to them

6 When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.

and they were satisfied. But when they were satisfied they became arrogant, and they forgot me.

7 So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.

So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lie in wait beside the path.

8 Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast would tear them apart.

I will be like a mother bear whose cubs have been taken, I will rip out their hearts. I shall devour them like a lion, like a wild beast I will tear them apart.

9 You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against Me— against your helper.

You have destroyed yourselves, Israel, for your only help is in me.

10 Where is your king now to save you in all your cities, and the rulers to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”?

Where then is your king? Let him save you in all your cities! Where are your leaders who demanded a king and princes from me?

11 So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.

In my anger I give you a king, and in my fury I take one.

12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is stored up.

Ephraim's guilt is packed up; their sin will be eradicated.

13 Labor pains come upon him, but he is an unwise son. When the time arrives, he fails to present himself at the opening of the womb.

The pain of childbirth has come to them, trying to give birth to a son who is not “wise” because he is not in the right position when the time comes.

14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes. (Sheol h7585)

I shall redeem them from the power of Sheol; I shall deliver them from death. Where, death, are your plagues? Where, Sheol, is your destruction? Compassion is hidden from my sight. (Sheol h7585)

15 Although he flourishes among his brothers, an east wind will come— a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert. His fountain will fail, and his spring will run dry. The wind will plunder his treasury of every precious article.

Even though they flourish among the reeds, an east wind will come, a wind from the Lord that rises in the desert will dry up their springs and their wells will fail. It will rob from their treasury everything of value.

16 Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.

Samaria will have to bear the consequences of their guilt, because they rebelled against her God. They will be slaughtered by the sword; their children will be dashed to the ground; their pregnant women will be ripped open.