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 used to speak there was trembling; a prince was he in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal and 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 go on sinning. They make for themselves molten gods – idols of silver, skillfully made, wholly the work of smiths. Yet to such they sacrifice! And they who sacrifice kiss calf idols!
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 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 who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You shall know no other gods but me. None can save you except 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 savior except me.
5 I looked after you in the wilderness; in that dry desert land it was like pasture to them
It was I who shepherded you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat.
6 and they were satisfied. But when they were satisfied they became arrogant, and they forgot me.
When they were pastured they became full, when they were full their hearts became proud. Therefore they forgot me!
7 So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lie in wait beside the path.
So now I will be to them like a lion, like a leopard will I lay in wait by the path.
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 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 have destroyed yourselves, Israel, for your only help is in me.
You are destroyed, Israel, by me, your only helper.
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 want to rule you! Where are your princes in your cities, those of whom you demanded, “Give me kings and princes.”
11 In my anger I give you a king, and in my fury I take one.
I give you kings in my anger, and take them away in my wrath.
12 Ephraim's guilt is packed up; their sin will be eradicated.
Ephrahn’s iniquity is gathered up, his sin is laid by in store.
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 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 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)
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 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 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 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 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.
