Hosea 13

1 When the words of my law came from Ephraim, he was lifted up in Israel; but when he did evil through the Baal, death overtook him.

When Ephraim spoke trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

2 And now their sins are increased; they have made themselves a metal image, false gods from their silver, after their designs, all of them the work of the metal-workers; they say of them, Let them give offerings, let men give kisses to the oxen.

And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

3 So they will be like the morning cloud, like the dew which goes early away, like the dust of the grain which the wind is driving out of the crushing-floor, like smoke going up from the fireplace.

Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud and as the early dew that passes away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

4 But I am the Lord your God, from the land of Egypt; you have knowledge of no other God and there is no saviour but me.

Yet I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt, and you shall know no god but me: for there is no savior beside me.

5 I had knowledge of you in the waste land where no water was.

I did know you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

6 When I gave them food they were full, and their hearts were full of pride, and they did not keep me in mind.

According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

7 So I will be like a lion to them; as a cruel beast I will keep watch by the road;

Therefore I will be to them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:

8 I will come face to face with them like a bear whose young ones have been taken from her, and their inmost hearts will be broken; there the dogs will make a meal of them; they will be wounded by the beasts of the field.

I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the lobe of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

9 I have sent destruction on you, O Israel; who will be your helper?

O Israel, you have destroyed yourself; but in me is your help.

10 Where is your king, that he may be your saviour? and all your rulers, that they may take up your cause? of whom you said, Give me a king and rulers.

I will be your king: where is any other that may save you in all your cities? and your judges of whom you said, Give me a king and princes?

11 I have given you a king, because I was angry, and have taken him away in my wrath.

I gave you a king in my anger, and took him away in my wrath.

12 The wrongdoing of Ephraim is shut up; his sin is put away in secret.

The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.

13 The pains of a woman in childbirth will come on him: he is an unwise son, for at this time it is not right for him to keep his place when children come to birth.

The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come on him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.

14 I will give the price to make them free from the power of the underworld, I will be their saviour from death: O death! where are your pains? O underworld! where is your destruction? my eyes will have no pity. (Sheol h7585)

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be your plagues; O grave, I will be your destruction: repentance shall be hid from my eyes. (Sheol h7585)

15 Though he gives fruit among his brothers, an east wind will come, the wind of the Lord coming up from the waste land, and his spring will become dry, his fountain will be without water: it will make waste the store of all the vessels of his desire.

Though he be fruitful among his brothers, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

16 Samaria will be made waste, for she has gone against her God: they will be cut down by the sword, their little children will be broken on the rocks, their women who are with child will be cut open.

Samaria shall become desolate; for she has rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.