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 used to speak there was trembling; a prince was he in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal and 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!”
And now they go on sinning. They make for themselves molten gods – idols of silver, skilfully made, wholly the work of smiths. Yet to such they sacrifice! And they who sacrifice kiss 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.
Therefore they shall be like the morning mist, like the dew that early disappears, like the chaff which blows away from the threshing floor, like the smoke from the window.
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 it was I, the Lord your God, ever since the land of Egypt, you know no other god but me, nor has there been any saviour except me.
5 I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.
It was I who shepherded you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat.
6 When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.
When they were pastured they became full, when they were full their hearts became proud. Therefore they forgot me!
7 So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
So now I will be to them like a lion, like a leopard will I lay in wait by 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 fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will tear open their chests, like a lion will devour them, and like a wild beast will tear them in pieces.
9 You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against Me— against your helper.
You are destroyed, Israel, by me, your only helper.
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”?
I want to rule you! Where are your princes in your cities, those of whom you demanded, ‘Give me kings and princes.’
11 So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.
I give you kings in my anger, and take them away in my wrath.
12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is stored up.
Ephrahn’s iniquity is gathered up, his sin is laid by in store.
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 pangs of childbirth come upon him, but he is an unwise child. For this is no time to refuse to leave the womb!
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)
Should I deliver them from the power of Sheol? Should I redeem them from death? Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your pestilence? Compassion is forever hidden from my eyes. (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.
Though he is flourishing among his brothers, there will come an east wind, the Lord’s wind, coming up from the wilderness. His fountain will dry up, his spring shall be parched. The wind will strip the treasury, all the precious things.
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 bear her guilt, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their children dashed to pieces, their pregnant women ripped open.
