Hosea 13

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

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

2 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.”

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 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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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, like a leopard I will lie in wait beside the path.

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

8 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.

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

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

10 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?

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

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

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

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

13 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.

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 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)

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 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.

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 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.

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.